436 THE DUCTLESS GLANDS. 



can be separated Ironi the sulphate of the active principle without 

 destroying its power to raise the blood-pressure. 



v. Fiirth, on the other hand, who likewise attempted to isolate 

 the blood-pressure-raising constituent of the gland, states that Abel's 

 epinephrin is merely an inactive foreign substance, contaminated 

 with the active principle which he claims to have isolated, and 

 which he terms suprarenin. v. Fiirth, however, was likewise not 

 able to obtain his suprarenin in pure form. 



Of late, Takamine also has announced that he has succeeded in 

 isolating the blood-pressure-raising constituent of the gland in a 

 stable and crystalline form. This substance he terms adrenalin* 

 From a preliminary report, which he has kindly placed at my dis- 

 posal, I abstract the following : 



Adrenalin is a light, white crystalline substance, of a slightly 

 bitter taste, leaving a numb feeling on the tongue where it has been 

 applied. When dry, it is perfectly stable. On heating, it turns 

 brown at 205 C. At 207 C. it melts, and is at the same time 

 decomposed. Its reaction is slightly alkaline. In cold water it is 

 soluble with difficulty, but more readily so in hot water. From its 

 hot solution it crystallizes out on cooling. It is easily soluble in 

 acids and alkalies, but not in ammonia or solutions of the alkaline 

 carbonates. Upon the addition of ferric chloride its solutions are 

 colored a fine emerald-green, which changes to a purple and then to 

 a carmin red upon the careful addition of caustic alkali. Strong acids 

 prevent the reaction, limiting the change of color to a dirty yellow- 

 ish-green. It reduces silver salts and auric chloride very ener- 

 getically, while the liquid at the same time turns red. This also 

 occurs on treating with oxidizing agents, such as potassium ferri- 

 cyanide and potassium bichromate. The usual alkaloidal reagents 

 do not precipitate the substance. With acids it forms salts, but 

 these have not been obtained in crystalline form. 



The elementary composition of the substance has not been ascer- 

 tained. 



The blood-pressure-raising power of adrenalin is very marked. 

 The amount pro kilo of body-weight which is required to raise the 

 blood-pressure 14 Hgmm. beyond the normal is one-millionth part 

 of a gramme, and distinct physiological effects can be obtained by the 

 administration of even one-fourteenth millionth part of a gramme. 



In addition to the blood-pressure-raising constituent, the adrenal 

 glands contain collagen, which enters into the composition of the 

 supporting tissue ; albumins, which have not as yet been studied in 

 detail ; and, further, a substance which apparently is related closely 

 to jecorin, and yields fatty acids, neurin, glycerin-phosphoric acid, 

 and glucose on hydrolytic decomposition with baryta-water. Be- 

 sides, we meet with lecithins and a small amount of inosit. Benzoic 

 acid, hippuric acid, and biliary acids are not present, as was formerly 

 supposed. 



