J. M. Dyniewicz

Convalescence : a study in the physiological recovery of nitrogen metabolism and liver function.

Excerpt Convalescence embraces the recovery of a multitude of physiological processes in an individual who has suffered from trauma, disease, or an operation. These various physiological processes ...

Evaluation of the laxative effect of some commonly used laxative substances: with particular reference to dosage

Habitual constipation is a common disorder, which, some opinion to the contrary notwithstanding, frequently requires laxative drugs for its most satisfactory treatment.

Phenolpthalein administration to nursing women

1. No free phenolphthalein is excreted in the milk of nursing women in the course of twenty-four hours or more after the taking of large and liberal doses of phenolphthalein: of the U.S.P. as well as of the yellow variety.

The influence of phenolphthalein on the liver

The effect of the ingestion of phenolphthalein in therapeutic doses on the liver was investigated. (a) The study of the history of 300 cases of jaundice failed to show an etiologic role of phenolphthalein. (b) The administration of phenolphthalein to 120 jaundiced patients did not change the clinical picture and did not interfere with recovery. (c) Phenolphthalein administered to 425 non-jaundiced patients did not produce jaundice. (d) Periodic liver function tests on 12 patients with chronic constipation, taking 0.30 Gm. of white or 0.12 Gm. of yellow phenolphthalein, daily, for months, did not reveal signs of liver damage.

The influence of phenolphthalein ingestion on red blood cell resistance to hemolysis

The resistance of erythrocytes of rats to hemolysis by saponin is decreased when these rats are fed sulfanilamide alone or sulfanilamide mixed with phenolphthalein. The feeding of phenolphthalein alone to rats does not cause any change in the red cell resistance. Hence, any hemolysis that may occur in subjects receiving both sulfanilamide and phenolphthalein is due to the sulfanilamide.

Studies on the influence of various substances on the colon: I. Phenolphthalein and other laxatives

From the results obtained from numerous examinations of stool specimens from normal individuals and patients, with and without evident gastro-intestinal involvement, and before as well as after the ingestion of various test substances, the following conclusions appear justified at the present time: 1. Abnormal stool constituents (excessive mucus, mucous strings, and protein) appear, at one time or another, in a fair percentage of patients, regardless of whether gastro-intestinal symptoms are or are not present. (Cases definitely diagnosed as “colitis” are not included in this series). 2. Changes in the bulk of the stool and the type of diet seem to influence the occurrence of abnormal stool constituents. Stools of hard, low bulk more often contain abnormal stool constituents. 3. Following the ingestion of various drugs and of bulk producing substances employed as laxatives, no appreciable changes appeared in the constituents of the stools examined; in a few instances where the observation was extended over a more prolonged period, the changes were no less unimpressive. 4. No correlation was found between the degree of laxative effect, presence or absence of subjective symptoms (cramps and flatulence) and the finding of abnormal constituents in the stools. 5. The occasional finding of abnormal constituents in the stool of an individual does not justify the diagnosis of “colitis,” nor does it warrant attributing the findings to any medication previously ingested. 6. Since there is no evidence that the occasional use of laxatives produces colitis, their use should not be summarily prohibited; but the public should be enlightened as to when and how to use them.