i INTEKNAL TKOTECTIVE SECEETIONS 55 



remote morbid phenomena, similar to or identical with the trophic 

 and cutaneous disturbances of Addison's disease. The latter are 

 seldom obtained experimentally because, with total capsulectomy, 

 the animals nearly always die with acute predominating symptoms 

 of severe asthenia and paralysis, due to the suppression of the 

 medullary substances. 



XV. We cannot doubt, therefore, that the protective function 

 of the double glandular organ formed by the suprarenal capsule 

 must consist in arresting the action of one or more poisons 

 normally formed in the body, and that the phenomena of deficiency 

 or functional insufficiency of these organs are phenomena of 

 intoxication. Numerous experiments have been made to determine 

 the nature of these toxins, their mode of acting on the body, and 

 the process by which the capsule renders them inactive. 



As early as 1857 Vulpian noticed that the liquid extracted 

 from the suprarenal capsules contains a special chromogenic sub- 

 stance, which, when exposed to the air, turns gradually carmine- 

 red. The reaction is produced instantaneously with oxidising 

 agents such as chlorine-, bromine-, and iodine-water. Krukenburg, 

 in 1885, returned to the study of this chromogen, and reported 

 that it gave certain reactions characteristic of pyrocatechin. 

 Brunner (1892) confirmed the results of Krukenburg, and Moore 

 (1895-97) succeeded in determining the chemical properties of the 

 chromogen of the capsule more exactly. 



Manasse (1893-94) found a substance in the blood of the 

 suprarenal veins which turned brown when treated with potassium 

 bichromate, and which is certainly secreted by the suprarenal 

 capsules. 



It is highly probable that these facts are in relation with the 

 theory of Addison's disease, which attributes to the capsule 

 (probably to the cortical part) the function of regulating cutaneous 

 pigmentation. In what exactly this relation consists is unknown. 



According to Nabarro (1895) the suprarenal capsules contain 

 globulins and nucleo-proteins that precipitate with magnesium 

 sulphate, and coagulate at 56, 65, and 75 C. An albumin is 

 also present which coagulates at 71 C. 



It has been shown by F. Marino-Zuco (1888) and F. Marino- 

 Zuco and Dutto (1890-91) that the suprarenal capsules normally 

 contain a considerable amount of neurine, and that individuals 

 attacked by Addison's disease eliminate appreciable quantities of 

 this base by the urine. Guarnieri and Marino-Zuco (1888), on 

 injecting solutions of glycerophosphate of neurine in minute doses 

 into rabbits, obtained phenomena of intoxication similar to those 

 observed after excision of the capsules. Albanese (1892) found 

 great sensibility of frogs, as well as of decapsulated rabbits, to 

 neurine. Half a milligramme injected under the skin of the back 

 (an insignificant dose to a normal frog) produces serious symptoms 



