Hepatic Cirrhosis has been produced experimentally in animals by the administration of antipyrine, the bacillus coli communis, hyoscyamus, toxalbumins and an exclusive meat diet. (17) This suggests the possibility of cirrhosis of intrinsic origin. Following the reasoning of Garrod, Haig and others it might seem reasonable to infer that the sub-oxidation of the nitrogenous elements of an exclusive meat diet caused the formation of some poison, which, circulating in the blood, irritated the liver cells and caused proliferation of connective tissue.

One is compelled to see the similarity between this and the process of interstitial nephritis which is also the result of the circulation of poisons of both intrinsic and extrinsic origin. Cirrhosis is undoubtedly caused by nephritis and when there is chronic alcoholism often coexists with it.

The fact that children with congenital occlusion of the bile ducts develop cirrhosis before death, which almost invariably occurs before the eighth month, recalls the notable experiments of Charcot and Gombault (18) in which it was found that cirrhosis of the liver was caused when the common duct was experi mentally tied in animals. This would seem to prove that the bile itself must be reckoned among the specific irritants to the hepatic cytoplasm which cause increase of connective tissue, and is a realization of the general biologic truth that the cells, like the individual, must be separated from the products of their own metabolism.