The complete cycle of albumin metabolism is now known in its broadest outline. The site of albumin synthesis had long been implicated to be in the liver by clinical observations and more recent studies on isolated perfused rat liver with radioactive labelled amino acid have confirmed these impressions, but the mechanism of its breakdown remained to be elucidated until 1959 Birke et al. and 1960 Wetterfors et al. demonstrated that a large percentage of breakdown occurred in the stomach and small intestine. In 1961, Katz et al. demonstrated the rate of catabolism of albumin in rats to be about 20% in the gastrointestinal tract, 25% in the liver and 50% in the muscle and skin. [...]

The function of a valve is to alter or regulate a flow or movement, and/or render it unidirectional. The body's valve mechanisms would constitute a fascinating study in themselves if for no other reason than for the variety of which Mother Nature has availed herself. Some are thought of commonly in terms of 2-way flow (laryngeal cords, lips, nasal turbinates) while most are thought of as being associated with 1-way flow (iris, external nares, cricopharyngeal or upper esophageal sphincter, all the heart valves, venous valves, pylorus, sphincter of Oddi, ileo-caecal valve, urethral sphincters). Some are active (anal sphincters) and some passive (valve of the coronary sinus). [...]

The work described in this thesis was undertaken due to scepticism of the basically accepted belief that "physiological" ileus occurred regularly after abdominal surgery. The aim, if the scepticism was justified, was to examine postoperative management from this point of view and to present a concept from which individual surgeons might further postoperative management to the benefit and comfort of their patients. The postoperative management of a patient who has undergone abdominal surgery is to a large extent, governed by the findings of abdominal auscultation. [...]

Tne high mortality rate in septic ahock continues to be a clinical problem. Different authors have quoted mortality rates up to seventy per cent. Laboratory study of one type of septic shock is possible in the dog using purified E. coli endotoxin. [...]

For many years, coronary artery disease has been poorly understood. The literature is full of contradictions with regard to cause and effect and there has been no agreement concerning any form of treatment, whether it be medical or surgical (Vineberg, 1964). [...]

The phenomenon and mechanism of tissue and renal homograft rejection is reviewed. Clinical manifestation of the rejection crisis in human renal homotransplantation is described, and problems of accurate diagnosis delineated. A study of daily stained urinary sediment on transplanted patients at the Royal Victoria Hospital showed significant lymphocyturia occurring in 5 out of 5 major rejection crises studied. [...]

The concept of impaired myocardial function in shock has been suspect and a matter of debate for many years. A French surgeon, LeDran as early as 1743, described a severe gunshot wound, postulating that 'spasmodic contraction of the fibers of the heart,' may play a role in the observed syncope, or 'interception of the stream of animal spirits.' [...]

[...] With so many conflicting opinions as to the best management of the shock syndrome, we decided to tackle the biochemical aspect or the problem.With so many conflicting opinions as to the best management of the shock syndrome, we decided to tackle the biochemical aspect or the problem. [...]

The earliest description of oesophageal atresia as a pathological entity was given by William Durston (1) in 1670. The first typical case of oesophageal atresia with tracheo-oesophageal fistula was recognized by Thomas Gibson (2) in 1697. Since then an increasing number of reports appeared. In 1861 Hirschsprung (3) presented 10 cases of oesophageal atresia in 1880 Mackenzie (4) collected 37 cases, in 1919 Plass (5) collected cases reported to that date numbering 136. Rosenthal (6) in 1931 reviewed the world literature pertaining to the subject and collected 255 cases. In the last 25 years the malformation has been recognized with increasing frequency and numerous large series have appeared in the literature. Attention has been centered not only on the correct diagnosis but also on the surgical treatment of this anomaly. Varied concepts of surgical approach and a large body of experimental work have found their way into the medical journals. [...]

Before immunity was demonstrated to be a major factor in homograft rejection, sorne hypotheses have been suggested to explain the destruction of the transplants. Sorne of them could have still importance although the immunological hypothesis is well established. [...]