PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIONS OF DRUGS ON THE SECRETION OF BILE. 237 
? 
ness;” and, by experiments on the human subject, we have ascertained that 
the condition, thus induced, may be cured by giving iridin or euonymin, sub- 
stances which powerfully stimulate the liver. As far as they go, however, our 
experiments show that pure alcohol has, at all events, no immediate action on 
the liver of the dog. iSite 
ACTION OF MERCURIAL SALTS. 
Calomel, and mercury in the form of blue pill, are the two preparations of 
mercury commonly employed for the purpose of inducing purgative action. 
The most generally received opinion regarding the action of calomel as a chola- 
gogue is thus expressed by CurisTIson (Op. xii. p. 505) :—“ The cathartic action 
of calomel and other mercurials is uncertain, unless other cathartics are united 
with them. Their action on the bowels is believed to be always attended by 
an increased discharge of bile from the gall-bladder.” But although this has 
long been the prevalent opinion, some physicians have doubted the cholagogue 
property of calomel, and on that account several attempts have been made to 
determine its action by experiments on animals. NassE (Op. i. p. 158) seems 
to have been the first to make the attempt. He established a permanent 
biliary fistula in the manner already indicated (p. 3), and he found that calomel 
increased the absolute quantity of fluid bile, but diminished its solid con- 
' stituents. By a similar method Korurer and MUtter (Op. ii.) found that 4 
grains of calomel given to a dog diminished the secretion of bile. Mosier (Op. 
iil.), adopting also the method of permanent fistula, found that even when large 
doses of calomel were administered, not a trace of mercury was found in the 
bile. Scorr (Op. iv.) gave to a dog with a permanent biliary fistula 3 
grains, 6 grains, and 12 grains of calomel on four separate occasions. He 
collected the bile continuously before, during, and after each dose of the 
mercurial, and he found but one result, viz., a diminution in the amount of 
bile and bile-solids secreted after the administration of these doses. ScorTti’s 
experiment appears to have been very carefully conducted. Its result was 
so much at variance with the prevalent opinion regarding the action of calomel 
im man, that some authorities alleged that there must be some difference 
between the action of mercurials on man and on the dog. Impressed with 
the necessity for obtaining precise information with regard to this point and 
others, Hucures BENNETT organised the committee to which reference has 
already been made. The committee settled beyond all possibility of doubt that 
mercury produces in the dog the same general effects as in man (Op. v. p. 201). 
When small but increasing doses of corrosive sublimate were injected. under 
the skin for several days in succession, salivation occurred, the breath became 
_ foetid, the gums ulcerated, emaciation ensued, and in dogs without biliary 
VOL, XXIX. PART I. 3 P 
