4o8 Tartaric Acid in the Organism [June-September 



Dr. William Salant^^ and his coworkers have made a special 

 and interesting study of the influenae of sodium tartrate on the 

 circulation: "Experiments with various concentrations of sodium 

 tartrate were made on dogs. When the tartrate Solution was in- 

 jected into an animal under chloretone anesthesia the following 

 results were obtained : The amplitude of cardiac pulsation, as shown 

 by the Cushny myocardiograph, was decreased even when dilute 

 Solutions were employed, the Systole being more affected than the 

 diastole. There was also moderate slowing of the heart. Blood- 

 pressure was not affected to any appreciable extent. The volume 

 of the kidney, as shown by the oncometer, was only slightly in- 

 creased. When ether or morphine anesthesia was used, the cardiac 

 effects were not quite so uniform. In deep ether anesthesia cardiac 

 amplitude and rate, after the injection of sodium tartrate, were the 

 same as under chloretone anesthesia. When anesthesia was lighter, 

 sodium tartrate was without effect on the rate or amplitude in some 

 experiments; in others, the rate was increased by 15-25 percent, 

 amplitude also being distinctly increased. A rise of blood-pressure 

 accompanied injection of sodium tartrate; o.i to 0.4 gm. per k. 

 producing a rise of 10 to 25 percent. In some experiments blood- 

 pressure rose 40 to 50 percent. Recovery followed invariably. 

 In curarized animals the action of sodium tartrate was more marked ; 

 3-4 c.c. per k. of 2.5 percent sodium tartrate causing a rise of 

 blood-pressure varying between 45 and 200 percent, which was also 

 the case after the injection of 10 percent sodium tartrate sol. Suc- 

 cessive injections made at short intervals produced the same effect, 

 thus showing absence of accumulation. When the concentration 

 was increased 20 percent, the action was reversed, and a distinct 

 fall in blood-pressure was observed. The volume of the kidney was 

 markedly increased. This was out of any proportion to the rise 

 of blood-pressure and was very constant. The increase was simul- 

 taneous with the rise in blood-pressure, but recovery was much 

 slower. Microscopic examination of the kidneys of rabbits that 

 died as a result of the administration of sodium tartrate showed 

 very marked congestion." 



81 Private communication to the author. See also Salant and Hecht: Amer. 

 Jour. of PhysioL, 1915, xxxvi, p. 126. 



