DUCTLESS GLANDS AND NERVOUS SYSTEM 25 



according to anatomical relations, into the cranio-sacral and the sym- 

 pathetic groups. He terms the whole vegetative nervous system autono- 

 mous, the group of the cranio-sacral autonomous nerves parasympathetic, 

 the other group sympathetic. The Viennese authors, who have busied 

 themselves much with this question, call the cranio-sacral autonomous nerves 

 without further ado autonomous, hence distinguishing between autonomous 

 and sympathetic nerves. This terminology has secured a large foothold in 

 the German literature. The disturbance in these two groups depends upon 

 an extensive difference not only in their anatomical relations, but also in 

 their physiological behavior. The action of both groups on the organs 

 they affect is in great part an antagonistic action. While, for example, the 

 sympathetic accelerator nerve accelerates heart action, heart action is 

 slowed by the autonomous vagus nerve. While the sympathetic splanchnic 

 nerves inhibit the peristalsis of the intestine, this is reinforced through irrita- 

 tion of the autonomous vagus. The following scheme, which is taken from 

 the experimental pharmacology of H. H. Meyer and R. Gottlieb, shows these 

 relations in a manner that may be readily understood (p. 26). 



The two groups also are different in a most noteworthy manner in their 

 behavior toward certain pharmacological agents. Indeed there has been 

 based on this difference a pharmacologic test of function that should furnish 

 evidence as to the condition of excitability of the vegetative nerves. As it is 

 also used in affections of the ductless glands I shall here briefly detail the most 

 important facts. 



Nicotine shows a specific affinity for all vegetative nerves, but only for the 

 preganglionic fibers interrupting conduction in these fibers. 



Adrenalin acts as a stimulant to the myoneural junction of the sympa- 

 thetic nerves in all their organs of supply, and indeed is furthering or inhibi- 

 tory according as the activity of the organ of supply, is furthered [fordern] or 

 inhibited by electrical stimulations. Only the sweat-glands are not, when 

 the doses are not too large, influenced by adrenalin. On the contrary, ergotin 

 shows a specific affinity for the furthering sympathetic fibers, while the in- 

 hibitory fibers remain unaffected. 



On the contrary, pilocarpine, muscarine, physostigmine, and cholin act 

 as stimulants on all the autonomous nerves, but only the sweat-glands in- 

 nervated by the sympathetic are energetically stimulated by these agents. 

 Picrotoxin acts similarly, but with a central point of attack. On the con- 

 trary, atropine acts as a paralyzant on the autonomous nerves and also in- 

 hibits the activity of the sympathetically innervated sweat-glands. 



The fact that among the substances mentioned there is a true hormone, 

 adrenalin, leads us to expect that this direction of investigation is very im- 

 portant for the internal secretions. In addition, specific affinities for the 

 vegetative nervous system are shown by certain ductless glandular extracts 

 not well defined chemically. 



