Solubility of Human Gall Stones in Dog Bile.

Abstract

That human gall stones dissolve in gall bladder bile of the dog has aroused considerable interest over a period of years. The reason for this phenomenon has never been accurately determined. Recently Walsh and Ivy 1 showed that the unsaponifiable fraction of dog bile which includes cholesterol, is smaller than that of human bile, while the saponifiable matter, which contains bile salts and soaps, is considerably larger. No quantitative estimation of the individual bile constituents was made.

The concentration of cholesterol in gall bladder bile of the human, beef and dog was determined by the gravimetric method of Windaus, before and after saturation with finely powdered cholesterol. This sterol is easily the most important constituent of human gall stones from the quantitative aspect. The figures in Table I indicate that while dog and ox bile contain little cholesterol they are capable of dissolving considerable quantities of this substance; this, we believe, is the chief cause for the solubility of human gall stones in gall bladder bile of the dog.