THE REACTION OF HUMAN BILE AND ITS RELATION TO GALL STONE FORMATION

Abstract

Determining the pH of bile by the quinhy-drone electrode method and checking the results by means of the hydrogen electrode, they studied the reaction of bile from normal human gall bladders, from gall bladders with stones from patients without biliary obstruction, from gall bladders from patients with cystic duct or common duct obstruction and the reaction of bile obtained simultaneously from the gall bladder and common duct. They conclude that (1) the human gall bladder acidifies bile (2) the hydrogen ion concentration of bile from the gall bladder is increased by cystic or common duct obstruction and (3) the occurrence of gall stones is not associated with a consistent change in the hydrogen ion concentration of bile from the gall bladder.