Abstract
In previous publications it has been shown that a stimulus that usually causes contraction of the human gall bladder may sometimes induce the reverse effect. 1 , 2 This has led us to believe that evacuation of the gall bladder is regulated in part by a reflex mechanism, and that from the standpoint of biliary stasis the reflex control may be more important than any other. Accordingly we have undertaken to ascertain whether reflex inhibition of the gall bladder musculature can be induced by stimulating the intramural portion of the common bile duct with a weak faradic current. Preliminary observations show that if such a current is applied when the gall bladder is under contraction (either spontaneous or after ingestion of egg yolk) tonus diminishes and the column of iodized oil in the gall bladder drops. This work is being supplemented by further experiments dealing with other sensory areas and degrees of stimulation, and with the gall bladder in different initial states of tonus.
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