172 



PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY 



conditions by the regurgitation of alkaline material from the intestine, 

 then the presence of bile in the gastric juice does not possess the clinical 

 significance it has been accorded. However, if an ordinary Ewald meal 

 be fed, and bile in any considerable quantity be found throughout the 

 entire course of digestion it may indicate, pathologically, a stenosis 

 below the level of the common bile duct. Frequently samples of 

 gastric contents are encountered which are uncolored and which never- 

 theless contain bile. It is also true that bile may be adsorbed from 

 stomach contents by mucus and food rests. The regulation technic for 

 bile testing is often inadequate to demonstrate the presence of this 



FIG. 49. MICROSCOPICAL CONSTITUENTS OF THE GASTRIC CONTENTS. 



A, Starch cells; 5, yeast cells; C, Oppler-Boas bacilli; D, staphylococci; E, streptococci; 

 F, sarcinae; G, muscle fibre; H, mucus; /, red blood cells; /, leucocytes; K, snail-like mucus 

 formations; L, squamous epithelial cell; M, cellulose. 



fluid in gastric contents. The following procedure based upon the 

 oxidation of the bilirubin with nitric acid forming green biliverdin is 

 delicate and easy of application. 



Procedure. Saturate 10 c.c. of the fluid portion of the stomach contents with 

 powdered ammonium sulphate. This may be accomplished by shaking for one 

 to two minutes. It generally requires about i inch of powdered sulphate in 

 the bottom of an ordinary test-tube to obtain full saturation. When the fluid is 

 saturated add 1-3 c.c. of acetone and thoroughly mix the contents of the tube by 

 inverting the tube five or six times. (It is better not to shake.) Permit 

 the tube to stand and allow the acetone to rise to the surface. This acetone con- 



