A CLINICAL STUDY OF TWO HEPATIC FUNCTIONAL TESTS

Abstract

The object of this paper is to add further clinical observations to those already assembled on the subject of hepatic function. A voluminous literature has been assembled already on the subject both from an experimental and clinical standpoint. A very excellent general review of this is set forth in Holweg's¹publication later reviewed and amplified by Riess and Jehn.²The more recent work has been presented by Rowntree, Hurwitz and Bloomfield.³In this study we have limited ourselves to the use of two tests, namely, the galactose test and the phenoltetrachlorphthalein test. These seemed to offer the greatest possibilities from a clinical point of view. I. GALACTOSE TEST The structural formula of d-galactose is CH₂OH (CHOH)₄COH. Its stereo-isomere is dextrose. It can be formed by hydrolysis from lactose. It rotates polarized light to the right. It ferments with greater difficulty than