

THE ADRENAL BODIES 179 



under these conditions is probably to be found in an immensely 

 augmented activity of the nervous system. Fatigued muscles 

 may however be prepared by secretion of adrenin for better 

 responses to the demands of powerful nervous discharges. 

 Adrenin improves muscular contraction by its specific effect 

 on the muscle in eliminating fatigue and by improving the 

 circulation through the muscle by means of its vaso- dilator 

 action. Notwithstanding all this, it is difficult to demonstrate 

 that there is in reality any beneficial effect of adrenin on 

 voluntary muscular contraction. 



Lewandowsky found that intravenous injection of adrenal 

 extracts produces dilatation of the pupil, withdrawal of the 

 nictitating membrane, protrusion of the eyeball, and slight 

 opening of the eyelids. The last two symptoms are usually 

 less marked than the action on the pupil and the nictitating 

 membrane. The effects produced on the smooth muscle of the 

 eye and the orbit are, in fact, the same as are called forth by 

 stimulation of the cervical sympathetic. There is a short 

 latent period, and the effects usually last some minutes, the 

 period of duration being prolonged by cooling the animal. 

 The action is peripheral, although local application to the eye 

 is without effect. The experiments were performed upon cats. 

 The same observer also recorded excitation of the arrectores pili 

 and inhibition of the bladder. 



Boruttau confirmed the observation as to the occurrence of 

 dilatation of the pupil on intravenous injection of adrenal 

 extract, and observed that in the cat subcutaneous injection 

 produces no effect upon either the blood-pressure or the pupil. 

 This writer further recorded that the injection causes inhibition 

 of intestinal movements. 



Lewandowsky pointed out that the extract is still effective 

 after the superior cervical ganglion has been excised, and the 

 nerve fibres proceeding from it allowed to degenerate. He 

 concluded from this that the extract must stimulate the muscle 

 substance directly, and not by means of the nerve endings. 



Langley confirmed this observation of Lewandowsky, and 

 agrees that the various eye effects are produced by a direct 

 action of adrenal extract on the unstriated muscle. This 

 author also found that the extract excites the salivary and 

 lachrymal glands, the liver, the muscular tissue of the uterus and 

 vagina, of the vas deferens, the vesiculce seminales 3 thedartos, and 



