Composition of gall-stones-histochemical staining.

Twenty Six mixed infective and 2 cholesterol gall-stones were stained for cholesterol, calcium, fat and mucoproteins. Calcium and cholesterol were found to be the main constituents of all the calculi. Calcium was found mainly in the centre and mucoprotein in the peripheral layers. The fine crystals of cholesterol were demonstrated in those biliary calculi which did not contain mucoprotein. It appeared that calcium might have acted as a cementing force rather than mucoprotein in this study.