EXPERIMENTAL OBSTRUCTIVE JAUNDICE

Abstract

Fairly conclusive evidence that one or more of the metabolites arising in obstructive jaundice may produce a functional or structural alteration in some part of the mechanism producing tetany is afforded by the absence or diminution in the neuromuscular response under conditions in which severe tetany would otherwise be evoked. The evidence is threefold. In the late obstructive jaundice of puppies induced by ligation and division of the common bile duct, a marked lowering of the blood serum calcium occurs, which may reach the tetany level.¹ Apart from certain intercepting factors, the early precipitation of tetany might be expected in very young animals with severe injury to the liver and disturbance in the intestinal tract. Some apathy and slight depression occur as a rule. As a further test of the foregoing hypothesis,² the parathyroids were removed from animals with obstructive jaundice. In a preliminary report³ of the effect of thyroparathyroidectomy