The first evaluation of the dye bromsulphalein (BSP) as a method of testing hepatic function was made in rabbits by Rosenthal & White (1925). They stated: 'Normally it (bromsulphalein) is rapidly removed from the blood stream through the activity of the liver cells, since, when the liver is extirpated, it is retained in the blood serum almost in toto during the early period following its injection.' However, no data were given for animals in which the liver was extirpated.In further experiments removal rates of BSP were measured in man after the intravenous injection of 5 mg/kg (Rosenthal & White, 1924). They found that a 68 % loss of the amount injected occurred within 3 min after injection and a 98-100 % loss in 15 min. Bromsulphalein appeared in the bile 4 min after injection. 85 % excretion of BSP in the bile occurred in 2 hr. Bromsulphalein was found only in traces or not at all in the urine. A standard amount of injury was produced in three rabbits by ligating approximately 80 % of the liver and subsequently removal rates of BSP were determined. A 30 % loss of the amount injected occurred 3 min after injection, a 37 % loss in 1 hr, a 57 % loss in 2 hr and a 77 % loss in 3 hr.

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