PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIONS OF DRUGS ON THE SECRETION OF BILE. 147 
which, as we have explained, is far more reliable, gives no evidence that croton 
oil is to be regarded as more than a feeble hepatic stimulant; and, seeing that 
it has no reputation as such in practical medicine, we deemed further experi- 
mentation with it uncalled for. But as these experiments convinced us that 
Rouric had, owing to the faultiness of his method, fallen into serious error, we 
deemed it necessary to subject all the substances he had employed, to our 
method of experimentation. 
That there was no purgation from these doses of croton oil is a singular 
fact, which has been laid hold of by some persons as evidence that medicines 
affect the dog and man very differently, and that therefore the results seen in 
the one cannot be applied to the other. It is well known, however, that a 
difference in action is guite exceptional, and certainly the following experiments 
fully bear out this opinion. The only explanation of the non-purgative action of 
the oil in the above cases that suggests itself is, that possibly too great a dose 
of this violent irritant was introduced into the intestine, and that a paralysis of 
Lieberkiihn’s follicles was the result. The large doses were given in imitation 
of Rouric’s experiments. 
ACTION OF RESINA PODOPHYLLI OR “‘ PODOPHYLLIN.”’ 
Resina podophylli, or “ podophyllin ” as it is commonly termed, is very often 
employed in practical medicine for increasing the discharge of bile, but the 
| physician is unable to say whether or not it really does stimulate the liver, for 
_the result he observes might be due to an action of the agent on the bile- 
expelling mechanism. The maximum dose of podophyllin for a man is two 
| grains. 
Experiment 7. Dog that had fasted nineteen hours. Weight 15°35 kilogrammes. 
| —The secretion of bile fell very gradually (fig. 7). Ten cubic centimetres of 
water were injected into the duo- ~ 
/denum at w. There being no 
| apparent effect, 100 cc. were in- 
jected at w’. The slight rise in 
secretion that ensued at the end 
of an hour may have been owing 
to this ; but it is not likely, seeing 
that water is absorbed with rapidity. 
At p, ten grains podophyllin, sus- 
Fig. 7.—Secretion of bile before and after water and podo- 
l re In- phyllin. w, 10 ce. water; w’, 100 ce. water; p, 10 grains 
geuded my 40) €c. water, OE resina yodophylli in 19 ce,” water injected into duo- 
jected into the duodenum; and denum. 
it is probable that the rise in secretion two hours afterwards was due to the 
podophyllin. 
