66 



The Endocrine Organs 



After a preliminary period of excitement, with rapid pulse and respira- 

 tions, a period of depression supervenes. Accompanying this depression 

 the muscular movements are first slowed; there is then paralysis of the 

 limbs and later of the respiratory muscles, with asphyxial convulsions. 

 The body temperature becomes lowered some little while before death. 

 The paralysis is central. Post-mortem a general hyperemia of the viscera 

 is evident, and abundant haemorrhages are seen to have occurred in various 

 parts. If a first dose is not fatal, a certain amount of immunity may be 

 produced to a subsequent dose (Vincent). 



Subcutaneous injection of adrenalin was found by Blum (1901) in- 

 variably to produce hyperglycemia and glycosuria. This occurs even if the 

 animal had been fed on a diet free from carbohydrates (Noel Paton) ; it is 

 then accompanied by increased excretion of nitrogen. This observation 



A 



B 



Fig. 42. — A, ergograph tracing from a person suffering from Addison's disease. B, tracing 

 from the same person after six weeks' administration of suprarenal. (Langlois. ) 



A, natural size ; B, reduced to one-half. 



seems to indicate that under these circumstances the sugar is formed 

 from protein, but according to the observations of Herter and Richards 

 glycosuria does not occur if the liver glycogen has been got rid of by 

 the combined effects of fasting and phloridzin injection. Pollak states, 

 however, that in rabbits the liver of which has been rendered glycogen- 

 free by fasting and administration of strychnine, adrenalin may, in 

 addition to' producing glycosuria, cause glycogen to be again stored in 

 that organ. 



The effect of adrenalin in producing glycosuria appears due in part to 

 an action on the liver nerve-endings, in part to an effect on the pancreas ; 

 for Herter and Wakeman found that the direct application of the autacoid 

 to the pancreas will cause glycosuria. This will be again referred to in 

 considering the influence of the suprarenal on other organs, and also in 

 connexion with the internal secretion of the pancreas. 



Several observers have found the administration of adrenalin to cause 

 increase of metabolism both of fats and proteins. 



