274 THE DISEASES OF THE HYPOPHYSIS 



slight amount of the extract often 2 cc. intramuscularly was sufficient 

 the production of COz and the consumption of oxygen were reduced. At 

 the same time the respiratory quotient rose appreciably. This rise in the 

 respiratory quotient lasts in man for thirty to forty-five minutes, then 

 it gradually sinks to the normal, while ordinarily the lowering of the total 

 respiratory exchange of gases lasts much longer. 



I cite the following experiment as an example: Case Ti (Acromegaly) 



Date ' CO 2 O 2 RQ 



February 23 256.1 327.9 0.780 



One-half hour after intravascular injection of pit. gl. . 230.77 246.96 0.935 



In experiments on a dog we found that on much longer doses (up to 

 30 cc.) the lowering of the respiratory exchange of gases was much the less 

 distinctly pronounced, and that the rise in the respiratory quotient also was 

 not so well expressed as in man. 



The extract used is albumin-free, but often gives a biuret reaction. The 

 slight amounts of albumoses present could not cause the depressor actions 

 that we observed, as the action occurred just as promptly after the albumoses 

 were removed. Also the chloretone employed with the extract furnished to 

 us could not account for this action. Finally it could be shown that the 

 active principle is not cholin, as the depressor action on the blood-pressure 

 continued after the previous administration of atropine. 



The interpretation of these results is attended with great difficulties. 

 The circumstance that we were not able to observe a depressor action in 

 man does not signify very much. It is possible that also here a dilatation 

 of the vessels occurs, but the action of this on the blood-pressure is neutral- 

 ized by counter-regulations. The depressor action on the exchange of gases 

 would let it be supposed that temporarily the tonus of organs with smooth 

 musculature or that the activity of the great glands of the body is reduced. 1 

 Still harder to explain is the action on the respiratory quotient. We 

 originally thought that the extract called for a mobilizing or increased com- 

 bustion of the carbohydrates, and that on account of this there occurred also 

 a reduction in the total combustion. But in experiments on two severe dia- 

 betics it was shown that here also there occurred a lowering of the respiratory 

 metabolism, but here the respiratory quotient remained quite unaffected. 

 The experiments also speak against the objection that the rise in the respira- 

 tory quotients has its foundation in an alteration in mechanism of breathing. 

 Further it was shown in numerous experiments that were constantly modi- 

 fied, that this extract does not act as a glycosuretic, and does not essentially 

 influence an existing alimentary glycosuria. Exceptions perhaps are certain 

 experiments on diabetics on whom after institution on a very low elimi- 



1 E. Neubauer was so kind as to make a onco metric experiment on the liver of rabbits. He 

 found after injection of pituitrinum glandulare distinct reduction of the liver volume. 



