THE SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM 361 



In the past it was believed that these products could be 

 administered by hypodermic injections. It was thus that 

 Brown-Sequard tried his first therapeutic experiments, 

 notably the use of testicular extract. We know now that 

 this mode of administration has no particular advantage. 



We have already said that the digestive juices do not 

 destroy the extracts and they still keep all their properties. 

 Perhaps hypodermic administration would give more 

 rapid results, but organo therapy has never been a treat- 

 ment which was very urgent. It is also possible that the 

 subcutaneous administration would cause the formation 

 of antigen which possibly might cause the appearance of 

 anaphylactic phenomena. 



The administration by injection is limited to serums 

 previously made aseptic. These can be given either 

 intramuscularly or intravenously; this last way of admin- 

 istering it is, however, contraindicated in extracts of 

 organs liable to cause massive coagulation and for this 

 reason would be extremely dangerous. 



In certain patients, particularly hard to treat, extracts 

 of organs can be administered by the rectal route. In 

 this method macerations of organs are given, the rectum 

 having previously been washed out with an enema, and 

 the patient being given with the injection a small quantity 

 of laudanum and kept in bed. 



GENERAL INDICATIONS FOR ORGANO THERAPY. 



The general indications for organo therapy result 

 directly of what we have said of the modes of actions exerted 

 by the various products which are utilized. The object, 

 in the majority of cases, is to supplement or stimulate an 

 organ whose function is impaired. Every time that 

 an organ is functionating deficiently, the indication is to 

 administer the extracts of a corresponding organ. Partly 



