202 THE DUCTLESS GLANDS 



the bloodvessels ceases so soon as the concentration of the 

 adrenal solution by diffusion or dilution with the blood and 

 tissue fluids sinks to a certain level. 



The disappearance of the effect of a dose of adrenin has been 

 attributed to the alkalinity of the blood. Thus, Kretschmer 

 finds that if this is diminished by the administration of acids, 

 the effect of the drug upon the blood-pressure is prolonged. 

 It is even affirmed that the active substance does not disappear 

 from the blood, and that the blood of a rabbit which has 

 received a dose of adrenin will cause the typical rise of blood- 

 pressure if injected into another rabbit, although the effects 

 upon the first animal may have disappeared. 



The subject of the inactivation of adrenalin and one of the 

 sympathomimetic amines in vitro and in vivo has recently been 

 investigated by Cramer, who reports that a solution of adrena- 

 lin can be completely inactivated by allowing it to stand with a 

 dilute solution of formaldehyde for a few minutes. " Epinine " 

 (see p. 199), under similar circumstances, also becomes in- 

 activated. Pituitrin and the other hormones are not so 

 inactivated by formaldehyde. It is suggested that the in- 

 activation of adrenin in the organism is brought about not by 

 a process of oxidation, but by a combination with a product of 

 metabolism produced by the cells on which adrenalin has 

 acted, and that it is a process similar to the reaction in vitro 

 previously described. 1 



P. The Proteins, Lipoids, etc., of the Adrenal Bodies 



There is nothing very special or characteristic in the proteins 

 which can be extracted from the adrenal bodies. They consist 

 of the albumins, globulins, and nucleo-proteins which are found 

 in animal tissues generally. 



The extractives and salts, moreover, do not call for any 

 special mention. 



The subject of the occurrence of choline in animal tissues has 

 already been sufficiently dealt with (p. 25 et seq.). It is 

 probable that we are justified in considering that whatever 



1 It has been stated that in cases of sudden death the adrenals contain 

 more adrenin than in cases of gradual death. This observation, if it can be 

 confirmed, may be of considerable medico-legal importance. 



