212 R. G. HOSKINS 



In connection with a study on shock, Erlanger and Gasser (1919) 

 administered very large doses of epinephrin (e.g. 10 mg.) and noted the 

 effects on the circulation in various parts of the body. They found that 

 the portal blood pressure was invariably raised, 15 to 30 mm. Hg. This 

 usually fell practically to a normal level after a time, even if the ad- 

 ministration of the epinephrin was continued, often reaching this level 

 while the arterial pressure was still high. Associated with this perturba- 

 tion of the portal pressure was a very marked decrease of blood flow 

 into the splanchnic area from which the portal circulation is derived. 

 After considering the various possible explanations, the authors concluded 

 that the elevation of portal pressure was due to increased "portal-hepatic 

 resistance." The outstanding result of their work is that epinephrin 

 markedly slows the circulation through the liver and supposedly produces 

 some degree of asphyxia. In view of the enormous dosages of epinephrin 

 administered, however, the results are of pathologic rather than of physio- 

 logic interest. 



The foregoing evidence as a whole does not afford grounds for any 

 very satisfactory conclusion as to what effect normal suprarenal discharge 

 might have on the liver circulation. Stromuhr studies have shown some- 

 times an increased -and sometimes a decreased flow. Plethysmographic 

 studies have likewise given somewhat equivocal results. The problem 

 is in need of further study with especial attention to the quantitative 

 factors. Such studies have an obviously important bearing on the rela- 

 tion of the suprarenal glands to carbohydrate metabolism. 



Effects on the Circulation of the Spleen. In their original report 

 on the pharmacology of suprarenal extracts, Oliver and Schafer included 

 certain observations on the spleen. In several cases studied the reaction of 

 the extract was an "enormous" contraction. In no case was any dilata- 

 tion observed except for a short time preceding the reaction proper. This 

 was regarded as probably a passive effect. Bardier and Frenkel recorded 

 the results of a study on a single animal that was apparently under the 

 influence of curare. Their extract was made by macerating suprarenal 

 gland for twenty-four hours at 37 C. Whether such an extract gave 

 purely epinephrin effects is very doubtful. After three injections they 

 noticed: (a) dilatation for three minutes followed by constriction while 

 systemic blood-pressure arose from 110 to 220 mm.; (b) contraction fol- 

 lowed by dilatation while the systemic pressure varied between 100 and 

 120 mm. ; (c) dilatation followed by contraction while the arterial pressure 

 varied from 80 to 180 mm. Judging from the sequence of initial arterial 

 pressures recorded, the animal was relapsing into shock. The vasomotor 

 reactions in the first and third cases indicate that the doses transcended 

 physiological limits. Falta and Priestly observed that the spleens of 

 animals exposed several hours after subcutaneous injections of large doses 

 of epinephrin appeared anemic. Vincent, without giving any details, 



