OF BLOOD-PRESSURE 67 



brain in consequence of the absence of efficient 

 vasoconstrictors. Therefore the amount of blood in 

 the pulmonary area is bound to vary inversely with that 

 in the systemic area. Any drug which causes vaso- 

 constriction of the systemic blood-vessels will engorge 

 those of the lungs. We may find here the explanation 

 of the uselessness, nay, the positive mischief of ergot 

 and adrenalin in haemoptysis, whether from injury or 

 tubercle. On the other hand, there is an important 

 field of usefulness for such drugs as the nitrites, the 

 value of which is becoming increasingly recognized. 

 Haemorrhage in the abdominal area, on the other 

 hand, is more likely to be checked by vasoconstrictors 

 such as adrenalin and ergot, though there is always 

 a danger that the raised blood-pressure induced by 

 them may excite fresh bleeding. 



REFERENCES. 



L. HILL. " Further Advances in Physiology," Arnold & Co., 



1909, pp. 72, 112. 

 CRILE. " Surgical Shock," N.Y., 1897 ; Annals of Surgery, 



vol. xxxv., 1902, p. 441. 



MUMMERY. Lancet, 1905, (i), pp. 696, 776, 846. 

 WALTON. Ibid., 1908 (ii), pp. 17, 85. 



