3/8 USES OF THE LIVER DUCTLESS GLANDS 



Chemistry of the Suprarenal Capsules. Vulpian has described 

 (1856), in the medullary portion of the .suprarenal capsules, a peculiar 

 substance, soluble in water and in alcohol, which gave a greenish 

 reaction with the salts of iron and a peculiar rose tint on the addition 

 of iodin. He could not determine the same reaction with extracts 

 from any other parts. Later, in conjunction with Cloez, he discovered 

 hippuric and taurocholic acid in the capsules of certain of the herbivora. 

 These bodies contain in addition, leucin, hypoxanthin, taurin, fats and 

 inorganic salts, the latter chiefly phosphates and salts of potassium. 



It has lately been observed that extracts of the medullary substance 

 of the suprarenal capsules when injected into the bloodvessels produce 

 slowing of the heart with great increase in the blood-pressure. This 

 occurs in animals under normal conditions ; but after division of the 

 pneumogastrics, the effect is an acceleration of the heart's action, with 

 a still greater increase in blood-pressure. This peculiar action is diffi- 

 cult to explain ; but the fact that the same results follow the use of 

 extracts from the blood of the adrenal veins shows that the gland is the 

 seat of an internal secretion. It is probable, however, that the increase 

 in blood-pressure is due to a direct action on the muscular coats of the 

 bloodvessels, as it occurs after destruction of the vasomotor centres. 

 The active substance has been isolated and is described under the name 

 of epinephrin, with the formula C 17 H 15 NO 4 . This probably is the 

 active principle of the adrenalin now often used in therapeutics. 



The suprarenal capsules seem to be essential to life. In Addison's 

 disease, a disorder attended with bronzing of the skin and serious and 

 finally fatal disorder of nutrition, there usually is disorganization of the 

 suprarenal capsules, but this is not invariable. It has not been estab- 

 lished, however, that disorganization of the capsules stands always in a 

 causative relation to the discoloration of the skin or to the constitutional 

 disturbance. Investigations into diseased conditions have developed 

 little of importance concerning the physiology of these organs. 



THE SPLEEN 



The spleen is situated in the left hypochondriac region, next the 

 cardiac extremity of the stomach. Its color is a dark bluish red and 

 its consistence is rather soft and friable. It is shaped somewhat like 

 the tongue of a dog, presenting above, a rather thickened extremity, 

 which is in relation with the diaphragm, and below, a pointed extremity, 

 in relation with the transverse colon. Its external surface is convex. 

 Its internal surface is concave, presenting a vertical fissure, the hilum, 

 which gives passage to the vessels and nerves. It is connected with the 



