54 Mj^ Dixon and Mr Hamill. Mr Dixon and Mr Harvey. 



The mode of action of specific substances. By W. E. DixoN, 

 M.A., and P. Hamill, B.A. 



[Read 23 November 1908.] 



The action of secretin was first analysed, and it was shown 

 that this substance produces its effect by chemical combination 

 with the proferments in the pancreas. It was suggested that such 

 substances of the hormone type have no direct action on living 

 protoplasm. Other evidence was brought to show that drugs 

 having a specific action on a definite tissue do not bring about 

 that effect by chemical combination with protoplasm or with 

 a constituent of the living cell. It was concluded that the mode 

 of action of Galenical drugs was different from that of the 

 hormones. 



The action of specific substances in toxaemia. By W. E. Dixon, 

 M.A., and W. H. Harvey, B.A. 



[Bead 23 November 1908.] 



It was shown that certain toxins such as that of diphtheria 

 cause death by vaso-motor failure. It was found that in animals 

 affected with such a toxaemia death can be greatly delayed by 

 the injection of normal saline solution. The action of drugs 

 becomes progressively less according to the degree of toxaemia ; 

 those drugs which act on the central nervous system are the first 

 to lose their effect and those which act on muscle-fibre retain 

 their characteristic effect longest. 



