Febeuabt 11, 1910] 



SCIENCE 



237 



occurs also in isotonic solution. Isotonic solutions 

 of urea cause a slight constriction of the blood 

 vessels of the frog, hypertonic solutions of urea 

 and sodium chloride a dilation. Hypertonic solu- 

 tions of urea, sodium chloride and glucose in- 

 jected intravenously in eats and rabbits cause an 

 increase in cardiac output and a vasodilatation of 

 the intestinal and renal vessels. 



The Biological and Chemical Assay of Ergot: H. 



C. Wood, Jr. 



The method used for determining the activity 

 of ergot physiologically was based on the rise of 

 blood pressure, the average rise for ten minutes 

 after the injection being taken as the physiolog- 

 ical figures. Comparative tests having shown that 

 the amount of benzol soluble matter in the fluid- 

 extract of ergot bears a close relation to the 

 pnysiological activity of the specimen, a method 

 of chemical assay based on this fact was sug- 

 gested. The body obtained by extracting the fluid- 

 extract with benzole yields a nitrogenous body on 

 prolonged shaking with dilute acids, which is 

 highly active. 



Inhibition of the Pancreas: C. W. EDirUNDS. 



The pancreatic secretion produced by secretin 

 is inhibited by the vaso-constricting action of 

 adrenalin, nicotine, pituitary extract and strych- 

 nine. When these drugs do not cause vaso-con- 

 striction they do not inhibit the pancreas. After 

 the injection of adrenalin the pancreas may not 

 regain the normal volume for five minutes and 

 with pituitary extract it may be eight minutes, 

 which facts explain why the inhibition persists 

 after the blood-pressure has returned to the nor- 

 mal height. 



If the high blood-pressure produced by adrenalin 

 is lowered by secretin to the normal height, or 

 below, the inhibiting action of adrenalin is not 

 removed because the lowering of the blood-pressure 

 is due to weakening of the heart and not to vaso- 

 dilation. 



Barium chloride may inhibit or accelerate the 

 pancreatic flow depending upon whether it con- 

 stricts the pancreatic vessels or dilates them and 

 thus increases the blood supply to the organ. 



When the pancreas is stimulated by pilocarpine 

 its activity is inhibited not only by adrenalin but 

 also by fresh injections of pilocarpine provided 

 the blood supply of the organ is lessened in 

 amount by the slowing of the heart produced by 

 the pilocarpine. 



Strophanthin Absorption from the Gastro-intes- 

 tinal Tract: R. A. Hatchee. 



Strophanthin is not absorbed from the alimen- 

 tary canal of the rat, and the absorption is 

 extremely irregular in the cat and the dog, and 

 apparently so in man. 

 Further Studies on the Influence of Alcohol on 



the Compositimi of Urine: W. Saxant (with 



0. H. HlKKDE). 



3 to 4 c.c. of ethyl alcohol, diluted to 50 per 

 cent., fed to dogs by mouth caused diminished 

 excretion of total nitrogen, phosphates, chlorides, 

 total sulphur, total and inorganic sulphates. Con- 

 jugated sulphates and neutral sulphur were, on 

 the contrary, increased. 

 The Toxicity of Gaffein: W. Salant (with J. B. 



ElEGEE). 



Resistance to cafi'ein varies in different species 

 of animals. Rabbits and guinea-pigs can stand 

 much larger doses than cats, dogs or pigeons. 

 The toxic dose of caffein by mouth in the rabbit 

 is much greater than that given subcutaneously. 

 Toxicity of caffein is greater when injected into 

 the muscles, still greater when given intravenously. 

 Chronic intoxication with caffein was induced by 

 the administration of doses insufficient to induce 

 acute symptoms and caused emaciation and loss 

 of strength. Starvation diminished the resistance 

 to caffein. 



Tolerance for Caffein: W. Salant (with J. B. 

 Riegeb). 



By the subcutaneous administration of gradu- 

 ally increasing doses at intervals of two to five 

 days, cats survived quantities of caffein which 

 were 60 to 70 per cent, greater than the fatal 

 dose. Rabbits and dogs similarly treated stood 

 smaller doses. 



On the Use of Phenolsulphonephthalein in Esti- 

 mating the Function of the Kidneys: L. G. 

 RowNTBEE and J. T. Geeaghtt. 

 Phenolsulphonephthalein administered subcu- 

 taneously is excreted quantitatively in the urine; 

 in health over 90 per cent, of a 3 to 12 mg. dose 

 being recovered in two hours as estimated by the 

 Duboseq colorimeter. In disease of one or both 

 kidneys, the degree to which the function is im- 

 paired can be estimated by a decrease in the 

 amount of drug excreted. The drug is non-toxic, 

 non-irritant, and first appears inside of ten min- 

 utes and these small doses are entirely excreted 

 in from two to two and a half hours. 

 On Insufflation of the Lungs with Hydrogen, Car- 

 bon Dioxide and Air: C. C. Gtjtheie. (Read 

 by title.) Rbid Hunt, 



Secretary 



