Effect of Injection of a Hepatotoxin directly into the Gall-Bladder of Rabbits

Abstract

AN inflammatory condition of the bile ducts is generally recognized to be the essential feature of ‘facial eczema’ liver damage in sheep¹. This condition has recently been shown to be caused by a toxic principle elaborated by the fungus Sporidesmium bakeri Syd., a common species inhabiting many pastures in New Zealand (ref. 2 and Percival, J. C., unpublished work). Guinea pigs and rabbits have also been shown to be susceptible to the disease, liver damage of a generally similar nature having been produced by feeding toxic grass and crude fungal culture, and ether-extracts of these (Clare, N. T., unpublished work), and also by injection of extracts (Worker, N. A., unpublished work).