Indican as influenced by bacillus acidophilus therapy

Abstract

Over 150 urinanalyses were made on 40 psychotic patients. The number of daily bowel movements were recorded, and showed a range varying from normal to severe chronic constipation. Various experimental procedures with B. acidophilus were employed. Such an investigation must be continued for a considerable period of time before any conclusions can be drawn. However, in reporting progress, it is interesting to note that in only five instances did the indican present exceed 20 mg. which is generally regarded as the upper limit of normal excretion. Some of the patients with severest constipation had very small amounts of indican present in the urine. In general patients who received B. acidophilus milk had a smaller amount of urinary indican than patients receiving B. acidophilus milk in which the viable organism had been killed.