OBSERVATIONS ON THE EMPTYING OF THE GALL BLADDER

Abstract

Observations were made on fishes, amphibia, birds, and mammals. Any intra vesicular mechanism is considered in itself as without significance in emptying the bladder. Studies on the exposed gall bladder of guinea pigs under novocain anesthesia show that the vesicle empties only in response to some fat diet. Neither gravity nor intra-abdominal pressure in themselves function in emptying the vesicle. The tonjcity of the sphincter of the common duct is not of major significance in guinea pigs. Observations on dogs under novocain anesthesia, following the fat meal, substantiate the conclusion that the gall bladder empties by its own intrinsic mechanism. The gall bladder of a fasting dog was observed to empty within 3 hours after introducing the fat meal directly into the duodenum. The maximal pressure ever attained by the contracting vesicle, as recorded on a manometer, was 260 mm. of bile. Fluctuations in the level of the bile in the manometer suggest that there are small contractions of the biliary vesicle of very short duration, lasting usually not more than 40-60 sec, and that these contractions are independent of the force exerted by the respiratory movement. The quantity of bile removed under experimental conditions, when added to the residual bile, invariably approximates the total capacity of the vesicle.