44 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE ADRENALS. 



from slight weakness to total paralysis. We not only behold 

 total loss of muscular power, therefore, as a result of supra- 

 renal-extract poisoning, but also as the result of absence of 

 secretion: i.e., of advanced suprarenal insufficiency. And what 

 is more simple than this cause of paralysis: the mere loss of 

 tone afforded by absence of secretion? That all remedies suffi- 

 ciently active to induce the phenomena outlined give rise to 

 both these phases of muscular activity through a primary effect 

 upon the adrenals the source of the twitchings ascribed to 

 strychnine, for instance will again be referred to. 



Vascular Pressure. The marked decrease of vascular 

 pressure accompanied by the still more evident cardiac weakness 

 which attends loss of suprarenal function has been emphasized. 

 We have also seen that the injection of suprarenal extract into 

 the circulation, besides enhancing vascular tone, slows the 

 heart. Both these phenomena appear under the influence of 

 venoms and poisons. In small doses these tend to increase 

 vascular pressure and slow the heart; in powerful doses they 

 reduce vascular pressure and weaken the heart. 



Kauffmann is referred to by Noe as having observed that 

 viper-venom at once causes enormous reduction of arterial 

 pressure. "It is especially marked in the digestive tract/' says 

 this author, "a true gastro-intestinal apoplexy; it is the main 

 cause of death." Phisalix, on the other hand, observed that 

 viper-venom caused general vasodilation, congestion of all or- 

 gans, rapid lowering of blood-pressure, and weak pulse; and 

 found the blood to contain but a small amount of C0 2 . Gouty 

 also observed vasodilation after injections of rattlesnake-poison. 

 Overactivity of the adrenals, typified by Swale Vincent's 

 injections into animals, and which caused hasmaturia, nose- 

 bleed, etc., soon followed by symptoms of marked insuffi- 

 ciency, is well illustrated by Fraser, who states that hasmor- 

 rhages are most marked in viper and rattlesnake intoxication, 

 and that hgematuria and haemoglobinuria were caused when 

 the full dose of venom has not entered the wound. Hsmaturia 

 attends, we shall see, overactivity; hgemoglobinuria, insuffi- 

 ciency. Fayrer observed that viper-venom caused intense hem- 

 orrhage and ha3maturia. Calmette also associates this symp- 

 tom with the cobra-venom. Scorpion-venom, according to 



