The excretion of Congo red by the stomach

Abstract

The excretion of dyes by the stomach has not as yet been studied in human beings, and even in animals has been investigated only to a very slight extent. Abel found that phthalein dyes were not excreted by the stomach in animals. For several years we have been engaged in the study of the diazo dyes, one of us 1 having paid particular attention to the effects of Congo red when injected intravenously into human beings. The present communication gives a preliminary report on the excretion of Congo red by the human stomach in conditions of health and disease. We have injected up to one gram intravenously into human beings and found that the normal stomach fails to excrete the dye, except in very small amounts, even when these maximal doses are used. As a matter of routine, we have injected 0.3 or 0.4 gm. in normal salt solution.

One of us has shown that anilin dyes, when injected intravenously, may be discovered in the secretions of external ulcers and of ulcerated cancers. With this fact in mind, it seemed advisable to examine cases of gastric ulcer and cancer after intravenous injections of Congo red. We have found in a limited series of such cases, that, as a matter of fact, the dye may generally be demonstrated in relatively considerable quantity in the stomach contents. It is not in solution, but upon filtration is deposited upon the filter paper. Microscopically, granules of the dye can be detected lying free or within phagocyte cells, and it seems probable that it is excreted chiefly, if not entirely, in these cells. Bleeding from the surface of the ulcers is not responsible for the presence of the dye in the stomach contents.