414 



PHYSIOLOGY. 



appears to be a secondary alcohol, and it is C 6 H 3 (OH 2 ). CH (OH) 

 CH 2 . NH. CH 3 . In the adrenals of patients dead of Addison's dis- 

 ease there was no adrenalin. 



Blood-supply. The blood-vessels of these suprarenal bodies are 

 numerous. Each is supplied by the suprarenal artery from the aorta, 

 together with branches from the contiguous phrenic and renal arte- 



cat 



-aijsfcr 



ChbruJe Solution. 

 I : i QOO 



Fig. 152. Effect of Adrenalin on Intestinal Peristalsis. 



ries. When the arteries enter the organ they ramify through the 

 fibrous stroma and terminate in capillaries surrounding the recep- 

 tacles of the granular cell-contents. The nerves are chiefly derived 

 from the solar and renal plexuses of the sympathetic system, and are 

 very numerous for the size of the organ. 



Function. The function of the suprarenal bodies is still very 





Fig. 153. Cat. One drop of adrenalin solution and ten drops of 1-per- 

 cent, solution of nitroglycerin, mixed and then injected per jugular. 



The adrenalin counteracted the pressure-lowering by the nitroglycerin. 



obscure. The discovery that a relation existed between the bronzing 

 of the skin of Addison's disease and a diseased condition of the supra- 

 renals was a signal-point. It was learned that these small bodies are 

 indispensable to life. The phenomena ensuing from their extirpa- 

 tion are due to a chemical alteration of the blood, and not to trauma. 

 The ablation of one capsule is not necessarily mortal, but the destruc- 

 tion of both produces death very quickly. In the rabbit death follows 



