CHEMISTRY OF THE SUPRARENAL GLANDS 91 



and more tedious than the blood pressure method. However, numerous 

 other compounds dilate the pupils. 



IToskins finds that the direct application of adrenalin to the iris 

 yields a sharper reaction than when it is applied to the corneal surface. 



Strips of blood vessels sometimes respond with 1-100,000 adrenalin, 

 but the maximal results are obtained with concentrations of 1 to 50,000. 

 However, this method is not satisfactory for determining the amount of 

 adrenalin in blood, because other vasoconstrictor substances, which are 

 normally present in the blood, influence it (Schultz, Schlayer). 



Stewart and Harvey believe that the Laewen-Trendelenburg reaction 

 with frog blood vessels is the most sensitive test for adrenalin, when 

 in pure solution, as it responds to dilution of 1 in 40,000,000. 



The test on uterine strips may not always be satisfactory^ at least, 

 when testing for adrenalin in serum (Falta and Fleming; Stewart). The 

 uterus is sensitive to mechanical stimulation and is at times erratic in its 

 reactions. Its tendency to undergo spontaneous rhythmic contractions may 

 interfere with its use (Hoskins). The reaction is- not very specific, as 

 extracts of various organs of the body give it. 



Amount of Pressor Compound Present 



Abel estimated that moist beef glands contain 0.3 per cent and as 

 1 part of the dried glands corresponds to 6 of the fresh ones the dried 

 glands should, on this basis, contain 1.8 per cent (Abel). Hunt's experi- 

 ments indicated that the dried glands contained about 1.5 per cent. 



Using Folin's reagent and controlling this by the blood pressure test 

 it has been estimated that sheep glands contain about 2.5 mg. per gram 

 gland, calf 3.4 mg., cattle 3.9. Battelli, using the ferric chlorid colori- 

 metric method, estimated calf suprarenals to contain 0.174 per cent. 

 Rat suprarenals contain about 0.073 mg. per 100 gm. body weight 

 (Herring). Rabbits contain 0.083 g. per kilogram, while guinea pigs 

 contain 0.229 g. per 1000 kgm. body weight (Ornstein). The amount of 

 the pressor compound varies throughout the year (Seidell and Fenger). 

 In manufacture, using glands of cattle freed from fat, the actual yield is 

 from 0.095 to 0.103 per cent, while sheep glands yield 0.08 per cent. Hog 

 glands yield half the amount that beef glands will yield (Armour and 

 Company). 



According to Elliott, the adult human gland contains about 0.1 per 

 cent of the pressor compound, i.e. 8-9 mg. in the two glands (Lucksch), 

 while Ingier and Schmorl, using mainly Comessatti's method, or a modifi- 

 cation of it, estimated 4.66 mg. in cases of death by accident. The glands 

 in the adult weigh about 5 g. (Barger ) . Elliott finds at birth that the pres- 

 sor compound is almost absent from the suprarenal medulla, but is present 

 in the p'araganglion aorticum; thus this organ which weighed 0.11 g. con- 



