THE ADRENAL BODIES 209 



He states, however, that he has for some time been in the habit 

 of giving adrenalin by the mouth in cases of pneumonia in 

 adults, and in broncho -pneumonia in children. In these cases 

 it appears to prevent cardiac failure, and has not given rise to 

 any bad symptoms such as oedema of the lungs. He mentions, 

 however, the possibility that such administration of adrenalin 

 may give rise to arterial degeneration. 



Adrenal extract is stated to be useful in functional disorders 

 of the heart associated with lowered arterial tension. In 

 certain cases, therefore, it may be indicated in migraine and 

 neurasthenia, where these disorders are associated with a low 

 blood-pressure. 



Kauert has quite recently recommended the use of synthetic 

 suprarenin in medicine. He reports that it is useful in cases 

 of vasomotor paralysis, and may be used both therapeutically 

 and prophylactically. The dose is from 1 to 6 milligrammes 

 subcutaneously, J to 1 milligramme intravenously. The drug 

 is contra-indicated in organic heart disease, nephritis, and 

 arterio-sclerosis with high blood-pressure. 



Adrenal Preparations in Addisoris Disease. The clinical 

 evidence as to the value of adrenal extracts and preparations 

 in the treatment of Addison's disease is very conflicting. A 

 cure can, indeed, scarcely be expected by treatment directed 

 towards remedying adrenal inadequacy, for the reason that 

 this inadequacy is only one result of a tubercular or malignant 

 disease, or a definite atrophy of the gland. Shaw points out 

 that there are several other reasons why such treatment should 

 fail. Among these he mentions our ignorance of the functions 

 of the cortex of the gland and the difficulty of securing the 

 absorption of an adequate amount of adrenin. 



The beneficial results which have been alleged are to be 

 found chiefly in diminishing the weakness and sense of lassitude. 

 Numerous cases have been treated with varying degrees of 

 success. 



Rolleston refers to cases of chronic adrenal inadequacy, or 

 " Addisonism." Boinet recommends adrenalin in these cases. 

 Various diseased conditions, such as cyclical albuminuria, 

 neurasthenia, with low blood-pressure, purpura, status lym- 

 phaticus, and haemophilia, have been attributed to adrenal 

 inadequacy, and hence adrenalin has been recommended. 

 But in these cases, as in those of Addison's disease, it seems 



14 



