THE DETOXICATING EFFECT OF THE LIVER OF 



CATHARTES AURA UPON SOLUTIONS OF 



^-IMIDAZOLYLETHYLAMIN* 



ALLAN C. EUSTIS 



(Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, College of Mediane, Tulane University, 



New Orleans) 



This research was undertaken with an idea of explaining some 

 of the clinical phenomena observed in cases of intestinal toxemia. 

 Many cases are observed by clinicians in which there is very marked 

 indicanuria, but in which there are no subjective Symptoms; while 

 other cases may present decided subjective Symptoms with only mod- 

 erate indicanuria. 



Most physiologists overlook a very important function of the 

 liver which, to the writer, appears to be its chief function so far as 

 Prolongation of life is concerned. We know how soon an animal 

 may die after the Institution of an Eck fistula, and yet we meet cases 

 in which the glycogenic (diabetes) and biliary functions (biliary cir- 

 rhosis) of this organ are greatly disturbed, or altogether lacking, 

 with little impairment of health for a long time. 



The presence of indican in the urine is an example of the results 

 of the detoxicating action of the liver cells upon an intestinal toxin. 

 That such action obtains in the case of other intestinal poisons is 

 shown by the experiments of Ewins and Laidlaw (i) who have 

 shown that />-oxyphenylethylamin, when perfused through the liver 

 of a cat, is broken up into /)-oxyphenylacetic acid and urea, which 

 are non-toxic. 



The liver of the common turkey buzzard, Ca^hartes aura, was 

 chosen for the following experiments on account of its well-known 

 fondness for Carrion, upon which it apparently thrives. An adult 

 bird, after having been trapped and kept in a cage for 3 days on a 

 diet of fresh raw meat, was killed by a rifle bullet through its head. 

 It was then immediately skinned, care having been taken to avoid 



* Proceedings of the Columbia University Biochemical Association, Feb. S, 

 1915; BiocHEM. Bull., 1915, iv, p. 224. 



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