176 THE INTERNAL SECRETIONS 1920 



II 



THE ACTION OF ADRENALIN ON THE HEART AND VEINS 



The temporary hypertension produced by an injec- 

 tion of adrenalin is a very well-known phenomenon. 

 It seemed to us of interest to consider the disorder 

 brought by large doses of adrenalin, which would pro- 

 duce an exaggerated hypertension and might even cause 

 the death of an animal. 



That edema of the lungs is caused by an injection of 

 adrenalin is fairly well known ; but in addition to this 

 reaction in the pulmonary circulation, we have observed 

 a more frequent manifestation in the pericardium. 



First Experiment A dog weighing 7 Kg., was in- 

 jected with 5 mg. of adrenalin, then, 30 minutes after, 

 with 3 mg. and 1 hour later with 1 mg. of the same 

 substance. The animal was killed an hour and a half 

 after the beginning of the experiment. Autopsy 

 showed no pleuropulmonary injury, but the heart 

 showed in the myocardium some signs of hemorrhage 

 in the left part only (right part normal). Those 

 hemorrhages of the myocardium were accompanied by 

 a slight, rosy discharge, containing 56 g. of albumin 

 per litre and some heminfiltration of the pericardium. 



Second Experiment A dog, weighing 7 Kg., was in- 

 jected with 7 mg. of adrenalin within an hour; the ani- 

 mal was killed and hemorrhages in the myocardium 

 were found in the right as well as in the left part of the 

 heart with a discharge of the pericardium of 6 mils. 

 Lungs as usual. 



Third Experiment A dog, weighing 12 Kg., was in- 

 jected at 4 :45 with 5 mg. of adrenalin, and at 5 with 

 6 mg. At 6 o'clock the animal was killed by puncture 

 of the bulb and 13 mils, of a slightly pink liquid were 

 found in the pericardium. The myocardium showed 



