72 



Scientific Proceedings (80). 



associated with this, is shown by the fact that the dilatation 

 reaches its maximum within 15 minutes, at a time before the tem- 

 perature has begun to rise. It is of interest to note, however, 

 that the two seemed almost always to parallel one another. The 

 wider the dilatation of the pupil, the higher was the subsequent 

 fever. 



45 (1223) 



The excretion of Congo red by the stomach. 



By R. L. Cecil and R. Weil. 



[From the Department of Experimental Medicine, Cornell Uni- 

 versity Medical School, N. Y.] 



The excretion of dyes by the stomach has not as yet been 

 studied in human beings, and even in animals has been investi- 

 gated only to a very slight extent. Abel found that phthalein 

 dyes were not excreted by the stomach in animals. For several 

 years we have been engaged in the study of the diazo dyes, one 

 of us 1 having paid particular attention to the effects of Congo red 

 when injected intravenously into human beings. The present 

 communication gives a preliminary report on the excretion of 

 Congo red by the human stomach in conditions of health and 

 disease. We have injected up to one gram intravenously into 

 human beings and found that the normal stomach fails to excrete 

 the dye, except in very small amounts, even when these maximal 

 doses are used. As a matter of routine, we have injected 0.3 or 

 0.4 gm. in normal salt solution. 



One of us has shown that anilin dyes, when injected intraven- 

 ously, may be discovered in the secretions of external ulcers and 

 of ulcerated cancers. With this fact in mind, it seemed advisable 

 to examine cases of gastric ulcer and cancer after intravenous 

 injections of Congo red. We have found in a limited series of such 

 cases, that, as a matter of fact, the dye may generally be demon- 

 strated in relatively considerable quantity in the stomach contents. 

 It is not in solution, but upon filtration is deposited upon the 

 filter paper. Microscopically, granules of the dye can be detected 



1 Weil, R., Jour, of Cancer Research, 1916, I, I. 



