ADRENALINE (EPINEPHRIN, ADRENINE) 93 



As an example of actual yields obtained in the manufacture of adrenaline from bullock's 

 glands, the following figures may be quoted which are percentages of the weight of the fresh 

 gland after dissecting away the fat : 0*095, 0*086, 0*103. (The weight of a fresh bullock's 

 gland dissected in this way, is 10-12 grm.) 



In manufacture the yield from sheep's is the same as that from bullock's glands, or 

 slightly less (0*08 per cent. ?). 



From 100 bullocks' glands von Fiirth [1903] obtained 0*78-1*74 grm. of adrenaline ; 

 on the average 1*13 grm.; 100 glands weighed about 1000 grm., therefore the adrenaline 

 isolated was 0*113 per cent. Weidlein [1912] obtained 0*247 per cent, crude adrenaline 

 from the whale's supra-renal. 



The results of colorimetric determinations, except those of Folin, Cannon and Denis 

 quoted above, are probably the least reliable. By the persulphate method Pancrazio 

 [1909] found 0*133 per cent, in the calf's gland and Batelli [1902] by the ferric chloride 

 method found 0*174 P er cent. 



Abel [1903, i j obtained 0*3 per cent, of crude adrenaline from fresh bullock's supra-renals ; 

 the product contained 10 to 12 per cent, of ash and probably also organic impurities, but never- 

 theless this appears to be by far the highest yield recorded, and Abel [1903, 2] estimates 

 that fresh beeves' supra-renals contain at least 0*3 per cent, of the active principle. Hunt 

 [1906], experimenting with a decoction of dried glands, found by physiological means 

 (blood pressure) that these glands contained 1*5 per cent, of adrenaline ; according to the 

 United States Pharmacopeia one part of the dried gland corresponds to six parts of the 

 fresh gland, so that Hunt's results would indicate a content of 0*25 per cent, in the latter. 



For the following observations on the occurrence of adrenaline 

 in man I have to thank Dr. T. R. Elliott, F.R.S., of University 

 College Hospital. 



At birth adrenaline is almost absent from the supra-renals, but a 

 large load of it is found in the paraganglion aorticum. 1 Thus in a full 

 term child examined three hours after death : 



paraganglion, O'i'i grm. = -24 mg. adrenalin 

 left supra-renal, 27 grm. = *oi mg. adrenalin. 



The normal weight of each adult supra-renal gland is about 5 grm. ; 

 in cases of sudden accidental death it contains about 5 mg. of adrena- 

 line, or about 0*1 per cent. 



The adrenaline content rapidly sinks in fevers ; in fatal cases of 

 pneumonia it may be reduced to I or 2 mg. Similar exhaustion 

 occurs with the prolonged septicaemia of malignant endocarditis, but 

 in no fever does it proceed to the minimal values found in Addison's 

 disease, so that death in fevers cannot be ascribed simply to supra-renal 

 failure. 



In chronic kidney disease, accompanied by high blood pressure, 

 there is no hypertrophy of the supra-renals, and the glands yield much 



1 Compare Elliott [1913]. Fenger [1912, 2] finds on the other hand, by a colorimetric 

 method, that the gland of the young fcetal calf contains as much adrenalin as the adult 

 organ. If the discrepancy is not due to the difference in species, it might be that the foetal 

 gland contains a physiologically inert precursor of adrenaline, giving a similar colour 

 reaction. 



