272 THE DISEASES OF THE HYPOPHYSIS 



influenced as to their excitability, the excitability of the nerves of the urinary 

 bladder and the musculature of the uterus are markedly heightened, or the 

 uterine musculature is brought to strong contraction. This action, according 

 to the experiments of Fleming and myself may be set aside through the use 

 of atropine. It is only constant in the gravid uterus, while in the virginal 

 uterus there may even occur inhibition of the peristaltic waves. Also cer- 

 tain chemotactic actions (mononucleosis, hypereosinophilia) are perhaps to 

 be referred to the irritation of autonomous nerves. According to Ott and 

 Scott, and Schdfer and Mackenzie, the extract of the posterior lobe contains 

 galactogogue substances. 



Also the actions on the metabolism are very appreciable. Schijf after 

 feeding a case of acromegaly saw with hypophysis tablets a 16 per cent, 

 increase of elimination of phosphorus, in a case of paralysis a 25 per cent, 

 increase. The increase principally affected the elimination through the 

 feces. According to our investigations (Bolajjio and Tedesco) this action 

 is to be referred to the pituitrinum infundibulare, as we saw appreciable 

 increase in the elimination of phosphorus after its injection. That a large 

 part of the phosphorus is eliminated through the feces finds its explanation 

 in the fact that also the calcium elimination through the feces is much in- 

 creased, and the calcium travels with the phosphorus in the intestine. We 

 also found an appreciable increase in elimination of nitrogen in fasting dogs 

 and in those in whom the nitrogen metabolism was in equilibrium. In a case 

 of acromegaly to whom he administered hypophysis tablets, v. Moraczewski 

 found an increase in the elimination of nitrogen, but not in that of calcium. 



Gushing recently states that, according to his investigations, extracts 

 from the posterior lobe of the hypophysis or from the pars intermedia, also 

 possess an action on carbohydrate metabolism. Intravenous injection of 

 posterior lobe extracts into a rabbit always produces glycosuria. Further- 

 more, subcutaneous or intravenous injection of extract of posterior lobes re- 

 duce the tolerance limits for carbohydrates even in animals with heightened 

 tolerance limits in which the hypophysis had been removed. Bernstein and / 

 could not corroborate Gushing' 's statement in experiments that we instituted, 

 using the otherwise active pituitrin of Parke, Davis &* Co. First, on the in- 

 jection of large quantities (up to 33 cc.) to rabbits and dogs, we never saw the 

 appearance of glycosuria. Nor, according to earlier experiments of Priestley 

 and myself is there an increase in the blood sugar-contents. Second, in 

 experiments on man we have never been able to influence [by its use] the 

 tolerance limits for carbohydrates. After the injection of pituitrinum in- 

 fundibulare (up to 3 cc.) we never saw the occurrence of alimentary gly- 

 cosuria on the administration of 100 gm. dextrose, and in individuals who 

 already had alimentary glycosuria, this was never increased under the 

 influence of pituitrinum infundibulare. Nor did we see an increase in 

 the elimination of sugar in diabetics. Especially important seem to me the 



