PHYSIOLOGY OF EPINEPHRINE 109 



Zuelzer 698 to assume the existence of an antagonism between 

 the adrenal medulla and the pancreas. The idea that hyper- 

 tension is due to overactivity of the medulla is not borne out by 

 determinations of the epinephrine content of the blood. 637 

 Excision of one gland or denervation, as practiced surgically, 136 

 is not justified by the available physiological evidence. The 

 operation is based on no sound evidence, is fraught with danger 

 to the patient, and could, in any case, yield only transient 

 effects since compensatory hypertrophy of the remaining 

 gland readily ensues. The claims of a number of authors 

 regarding the presence of an excess of epinephrine in the blood 

 under various conditions, — Graves' disease, renal disease etc. — 

 have also not been substantiated when carefully retested. 637 



There is no evidence that epinephrine regulates urinary 

 secretion, muscular activity, the development of fatigue, and 

 the many other physiological actions for which it has been 

 credited. 625 



In emotional disturbances there is a discharge of nervous 

 impulses via the sympathetic. Since epinephrine when in- 

 jected induces the same action as the sympathetic, it would be 

 logical to conclude that epinephrine is secreted in times of 

 stress to cooperate with the nervous impulses. This is the 

 crux of Cannon's theory of the ' 'Emergency Function" of the 

 adrenals. 102 Cannon and de la Paz found that the dilatation 

 of the pupils and upstanding of the fur which accompany 

 sudden alarm or excitement are associated with an increased 

 discharge of epinephrine. 103 Subsequently, Cannon and his 

 collaborators claimed to show that fear, rage, pain, cold, 

 asphyxia etc. caused a discharge of epinephrine from the 

 adrenals. They attempted to show that epinephrine is serv- 

 iceable in lessening muscular fatigue, in accelerating the 

 coagulation of the blood, and in otherwise aiding the organism 

 in an emergency. 104 - 105 



The theory and experiments of Cannon and his collaborators 

 have been the subject of an intense controversy. Stewart and 



