366 EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY 



soluble in water and is dissolved as follows : Weigh out the 

 required amount, perhaps one hundred milligrams, and 

 place it in a dry beaker. Over the powder pour three or 

 four drops of ten per cent sodium hydrate solution and stir 

 the powder into the solution. Two or three drops of Avater 

 are slowly added from time to time as the drug goes into 

 solution. When all the powder is dissolved water is added 

 to bring the solution to the desired strength (one cubic 

 centimeter equals five milligrams). Since the drug is ex- 

 pensive it is sometimes advisable to make up only a small 

 amount and inject each dose directly into a vein (femoral or 

 external jugular) with a hypodermic syringe. 



The metal tube in the abdomen is filled high enough to 

 cover the uterine horns with petrolatum liquidum (liquid 

 paraffin). This protects the uterus against cooling or dry- 



ing. 



When all adjustments are made arrange the writing- 

 points on the drum (slow speed) with the uterine record at 

 the top. Take a normal and determine what weight (ten- 

 sion) the uterus can best counteract. When all is ready 

 watch the pupils closely and inject two cubic centimeters of 

 ergotoxine (dog 7 or 8 kilos) and record the results. How 

 does the record compare with one made by adrenaline? 

 How long does the change in blood-pressure last ? Wait till 

 the drug has shown its action (perhaps four to six inches on 

 a slow drum). Did the uterus contract? How do you ex- 

 plain this! There is great variation in this respect in dif- 

 ferent animals and species. Inject one-half cubic centi- 

 meter of adrenaline. How does this drug act now as com- 

 pared with the result in a normal animal ? Do you note any 

 changes? (The size of tlie dose of ergotoxine is of im- 

 portance here more can be injected later.) 



Get the animal into as good condition as possible and take 

 a normal. Watch the pupils and inject two cubic centi- 

 meters of ergamine (histamine Burroughs, Wellcome & 

 Co. put up in hypodermic tablets make solution ten cubic 



