ACTION OF CERTAIN DRUGS 293 



lodin Adrenin 



The effects of these substances, which are the es- 

 sential constituents of thyroid secretion and of adrenal 

 secretion respectively, and the adaptive reaction of the 

 organic mechanism to each have already been fully 

 discussed. It is sufficient here to repeat that both 

 iodin and adrenin cause increased energy trans- 

 formation, the one almost instantaneously, the other 

 after a latent period. The effect of adrenin is evanes- 

 cent ; the effect of iodin is sustained ; each in excessive 

 doses causes acidosis : each in excessive doses causes 

 histologic changes in the brain, the adrenals and the 

 liver ; and each causes many of the phenomena of emo- 

 tion, exertion, injury, infection and Graves' disease. 



Inhalation Anesthetics Ether Nitrous Oxid 



Although nitrous oxid and ether alike produce 

 unconsciousness, the effects of their administration 

 differ in certain respects. While we are not pre- 

 pared to assign the cause of this difference, we can 

 apply the test of histologic examination of the brain, 

 the adrenals and the liver after the administration of 

 each. Prolonged administration of ether produces histo- 

 logic changes in these organs, corresponding in kind, if 

 not in degree, to the histologic changes produced by 

 strychnin, alcohol, acids, etc. After the prolonged ad- 

 ministration of nitrous oxid, on the other hand, the cells 

 of the brain, the adrenals and the liver are found to be 

 hyperchromatic, as after the administration of morphia 

 or sodium bicarbonate. Further evidence of the conser- 

 vative power of nitrous oxid as compared with the de- 



