Abstract
The duodenal contents of fasting patients were examined before and after the administration of a saturated solution of magnesium sulfate, according to the method of Lyons. The Duodenal tube was allowed to remain in the duodenum for a period of two hours and the contents examined every ten minutes. It was found that usually there is a distinct increase in the cholesterol present in the duodenal contents after the administration of the magnesium sulfate. After an hour the cholesterol content decreases.
The amount of cholesterol in the duodenal contents varies in different patients, between 25 and 105 milligrams per 10 c. c. in the fasting state. After the administration of the magnesium sulfate, the amount of cholesterol is often tremendously increased. This increase is very sudden and would give the impression as if the gall bladder voided its concentrated bile into the duodenum.
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