THE SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM 129 



5. An increase in the toxicity of the exudates 

 and transudates. 



6. Accessorily various lesions of the central nervous 

 system and the greater sympathetic. 



If the removal of the adrenals has been incomplete and 

 a small piece of glandular tissue remains (Hi of the total 

 weight), the suprarenal functions remain intact and the 

 animal survives (Langlois). 



The physiological study of the action of the extracts of 

 the suprarenals complete the knowledge of the function 

 of the adrenals. In 1895 Oliver and Schafer established 

 the fact that the injection intravenously of the extract of 

 adrenals caused an increase of the blood pressure and 

 Langlois showed that the same results could be obtained 

 by injecting blood coming from the adrenal veins. This 

 action was due primarily to an active principle secreted by 

 the glands, suprarenalin, discovered by Takamine in 1901. 



Suprarenalin acts not only on the blood pressure, but 

 also on the heart and the blood vessels. It increases the 

 strength of the cardiac muscle by the intermediary of 

 the sympathetic whose normal stimulant it is; it interferes 

 with the inhibitive action of the vagus on the myocardium 

 (Roger). At the level of the blood vessels, it causes a 

 marked vaso constriction and a corresponding increase in 

 blood pressure. In the pulmonary circulation it will cause 

 in toxic doses acute edema of the lung. 



Suprarenalin is also a poison of the blood vessels and in 

 repeated doses will cause atheromata in animals (Josue). 



It also influences the regulation of glucose: in dogs and 

 in rabbits it will cause a glycosuria when injected sub- 

 cutaneously (Blum). 



All these facts have an application in human pathology. 



