THE ADRENAL GLANDS. 461 



persists for from one to three days, and is manifestly not dependent 

 upon changes in the blood-plasma. It is noteworthy that in these 

 cases the elimination of nitrogen is not increased, and that neither 

 acetone nor diacetic acid is found in the urine. As explanation of 

 the glucosuria in these cases Blum is inclined to assume some 

 special action on the part of the adrenal extract upon the pancreas 

 or possibly upon the liver. Similar results were obtained by Herter 

 and Wakeman with adrenalin directly. These observers also found 

 that painting the pancreas with adrenalin solution produced marked 

 glucosuria, while this was only slight if the same was done in the 

 case of the liver, the spleen, or the brain. Other reducing agents 

 produced a similar effect, so that the authors concluded that a toxic 

 effect is exerted by all these bodies upon the pancreatic cells leading 

 to impairment of their oxidizing power, so that normal combustion 

 of the sugar does not occur. 



In a number of instances in which glucosuria was produced by 

 the injection of adrenal extract, bile-pigment also appeared in the 

 urine, but there is no constant relation between the two conditions 

 (Blum). 



In addition to these bodies the adrenal glands contain collagen, 

 which enters into the composition of the supporting tissue ; albu- 

 mins, which have not been studied in detail ; and, further, a sub- 

 stance which apparently is closely related to jecorin, and yields 

 fatty acids, neurin, glycerin-phosphoric acid, and glucose on hydro- 

 lytic decomposition with baryta-water. Besides, lecithins and a 

 small amount of inosit are met with. Benzoic acid, hippuric 

 acid, and biliary acids are not present, as was formerly supposed. 



Jones has isolated a nucleoproteid from the adrenal gland which 

 seems to have the same composition as Hammarsten's nucleopro- 

 teid which he obtained from the pancreas. It is dextrorotatory 

 (a)D +43.1. 



Of ferments, the adrenal gland contains an aldehydase (Jacoby) 

 which is principally found in the cortex ; further, a diastase 

 (Croftan) which is capable of forming both maltose and dextrose, 

 and finally an autolytic proteolytic ferment. 



