The elimination of caffein in the bile. 1

Abstract

The elimination of caffein and its products of decomposition in the urine has been studied by a number of investigators, in dogs, rabbits and in man. Its presence in the digestive secretions has been recently made the subject of a special investigation in this laboratory. It was found in the bile removed from the gall bladder of a number of dogs poisoned with caffein. In every case appreciable quantities were found. A dog which was given 1.5 grams of caffein by mouth died four hours later. The bile removed from the gall bladder contained 4.4 milligrams of caffein. Similar results were obtained in other experiments. Experiments made on rabbits with temporary bile fistula have shown that the elimination of caffein likewise takes place by this path in these animals. Caffein was found in the bile two hours after its subcutaneous injection.