THE ADRENAL BODIES 211 



Various Applications of Adrenal Preparations and of Adrenin. 

 Barr found that after withdrawal of fluid from the pleural 

 cavity of a patient suffering from carcinoma of the lung, the 

 fluid did not accumulate again after the introduction of 

 adrenalin. The same applies to tuberculous pleurisy, tuber- 

 culous and malignant peritonitis, and to ascites due to cirrhosis. 

 The method was, after removal of the fluid, to inject 40 to 60 

 minims of adrenalin chloride, 1 in 1,000. In ascites the success 

 was not so great as in the other cases. 



Plant and Steele report good results in cirrhosis of the liver 

 and pleural effusion, and state their belief that the injection of 

 adrenalin chloride is strongly indicated in all cases of serous 

 effusion when simple tapping does not effect a cure. The 

 empirical results obtained by Barr and others are explained by 

 the experiments of Exner and Meltzer and Auer. Exner found 

 after experimental injection of adrenalin that absorption of 

 strychnine and physostigmine is delayed, and so the life of the 

 animal may be saved. This was confirmed by Meltzer and 

 Auer, who also showed that fluorescin transfused from the 

 blood into the peritoneum much more slowly in animals that 

 had previously received adrenalin intravenously. It has also 

 been demonstrated that intraperitoneal injection of adrenalin 

 will lessen the tendency of transudation into the peritoneal 

 cavity, after excessive transfusion of normal salt solution. 



Milian states that certain symptoms due to salvarsan can 

 be prevented by previous intramuscular injection of adrenin. 



Jona recommends adrenin in the emergency treatment of 

 non-corrosive poisoning by the mouth (cyanide, strychnine, 

 aconite), on the ground that it diminishes the rate of absorp- 

 tion. 



Mode of Administration of Adrenal Preparations. It is well 

 to recall that adrenal extracts were first administered by 

 subcutaneous injection. But since Oliver and Schafer reported 

 that the activity of the gland is not impaired in vitro by pepsin 

 and hydrochloric acid, it has become customary to give it by 

 the mouth. Raw sheep's adrenal bodies have been given, and 

 a tincture has also been employed, but most usually a dried 

 extract is employed in the form of a pill. In addition to these 

 modes of exhibition all the various forms of the active substance 

 adrenin have been used from time to time. 



Some years ago the present writer failed to observe any 



