THE RELATION OF THE SPLEEN TO BLOOD DESTRUCTION AND REGENERATION AND TO HEMOLYTIC JAUNDICE

Abstract

1. In four animals with a bile duct-ureter anastomosis and without disturbance due to obstruction or absorption, the total quantity of bile pigment output during a day under normal conditions varied from 0.0618 to 0.0678 gm. These figures are practically identical with those of Stadelmann (9, 10) but lower than those given by Hooper and Whipple (7), who find that the average bile pigment excretion amounts to about 1 mg. per pound of body weight per 6 hours. 2. In all the experiments there is definite evidence of a decrease in bile pigment elimination after splenectomy. This is true not only of the elimination when no hemolytic agent is administered but also when excessive blood destruction is caused. Under the latter circumstances the amount of bile pigment is greatly increased but never reaches the high level of blood destruction before splenectomy. 3. These observations appear to show conclusively that the absence of the spleen influences the formation of bile pigment. To what extent the influence is mechanical, i.e., change in the course of the blood to the liver, and to what extent due to anemia, cannot be stated at present.