INTRODUCTION
In the bodily economy, the bile salts are carefully retained by the organism, being reabsorbed from the intestines, and their physiologic functions may at least be regarded as essential to a normal degree of health. In contrast to their beneficial action, investigations have shown that the bile salts are a very general tissue poison.1,2 It is instructive to note the various pathologic lesions to which they might give rise and the corresponding methods of defense which the body possesses.One of these methods consists in a specific action of the blood serum by which it effectively inhibits the toxic properties of the bile salts.2 A striking example is the protection of the red corpuscles from hemolysis. There are also certain mechanical considerations which are of importance. Ordinarily the direction of flow and the anatomic continuity of the bile passages is sufficient to protect the stomach,