Abstract
1. Colloid osmotic pressure of the gallbladder bile was measured in nine cases of cholecystitis, two of the biliary tract ascariasis, ten of cholelithiasis and four control cases.
2. The average pressure in cases with the healthy liver and healthy biliary tract was 646mm. H2O for the 12 hours value and 588mm. H2O for the 24 hours value.
3. In the cases with biliary disorders, the colloid osmotic pressure was generally higher than in the control. The pressure was the highest in biliary tract ascariasis, and higher in non-calculous cholecystitis and in cholelithiasis, in the order mentioned.
4. The colloid osmotic pressure of the pathologic bile was three to four times as high as that of the body fluid of ascaris. This may be a reason why a dead body of ascaris is able to remain in the biliary tract for a long time without suffering putrefaction.
