USES OF ADRENALIN 451 



The latest experimental and clinical studies show adrenalin is of 

 chief value for internal use in conditions of greatly reduced blood pres- 

 surCj as in poisoning by ether^ by chloral, and in surgical shock, but not 

 in chloroform inhalation. Here it is now considered an efficient remedy, 

 although its action is very transient. In these conditions adrenalin solu- 

 tion should be injected directly into a vein. Horses, Tll.xx, dogs, TTtii. 

 Ten times this dosage may be safely given into a vein slowly with a saline 

 infusion. Eossi has artificially produced osteomalacia in sheep by re- 

 moval of one adrenal gland. Treatment has likewise been successful in 

 osteomalacia in the human, and in rickets in puppies by intramuscular 

 injection of 1-1,000 adrenalin solution (Vf^v-xv t.i.d.). 



Administration. — Adrenalin is preferable to the so-called suprarenal 

 extracts, the dried and powdered suprarenal capsules of sheep and oxen. 

 When the drug is given ty the mouth or rectum, its action on the system 

 at large is slow and uncertain, owing to the tardiness of absorption, pre- 

 sumably due to the vascular constriction it occasions and to its rapid 

 decomposition. Intravenous injection is most effective in solutions of 1 

 to 10,000, or more dilute, in normal salt solution. Subcutaneous injec- 

 tion is somewhat uncertain owing to slow absorption, through vascular 

 constriction. But the 1-1,000 solution (H., o i; D., 1Tl,x) may be 

 injected deep into the muscle with certain effect and without irritation. 

 A stronger solution than 1 to 10,000 may cause an abscess if the drug 

 be given hypodermically. The doses of adrenalin chloride by mouth in 

 1 to 1,000 solution subcutaneously or intramuscularly are: Dogs, 

 Tr|,x-xv, (0.6-1); horses, 3i-iv, (4-15). Adrenalin should be repeated 

 once in two hours when given internally as an hemostatic. It is an ex- 

 pensive drug. 



Hypophysis Sicca. Desiccated Hypophysis. (U. S. P.) 



The posterior lobe obtained from the pituitary gland of cattle, cleaned, dried, 

 and powdered. A yellowish or grayish, amorphous powder, having o character- 

 istic odor and but partially soluble in water. 



Dose. — About 1/30 of the solution of hypophysis. 



Liquor Hypophysis. Solution of Hypophysis. (U. S. P.) 



A colorless, or nearly so, transparent, watery extract of the principle of the 

 fresh posterior lobe of the pituitary gland of cattle, sold under name of Pitui- 

 trin. 



Derivation. — Extract finely minced gland with acidulated water, boil the solu- 

 tion 10 minutes and filter and sterilize. One mil diluted 20,000 times has the 

 same activity on the isolated uterus of the virgin guinea pig as a 1 to 20,000,000 

 solution of beta-iminazolyl-ethylamine-hydrochloride. 



Efforts to isolate an active principle from the posterior lobe have thus far 

 been unsuccessful. The action of the extract is attributed to a hormone (Schae- 

 fer). Administration of pituitrin will not offset the effects of removal or disease 

 of the gland (acromegaly, gigantism, obesity, wasting or imperfect development 

 of the sexual organs) since it is the functioning of the anterior lobe which chiefly 

 controls growth and development of the body. Removal of the anterior lobe, or 

 of the whole pituitary gland, in dogs, causes death in 2 to 5 days with coma, 

 glycosuria, relaxed muscles, and slow feeble pulse and respiration (Gushing). 



Peritz finds disease of the pituitary gland may be classified as follows: 

 Dwarfism is due to hypo- and gigantism and acromegaly to hyper-function of the 

 anterior lobe. Decreased function of the posterior lobe causes adiposity, while 

 hyper-function results in diabetes insipidus. These forms may be mixed as adi- 



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