ACTION AND USES OF QUININE . 485 



corpuscles do not collect in the arterioles or migrate through 

 their walls (diapedesis). Again, when inflammation has 

 already begun in the mesentery, quinine stops the trans- 

 migration of leucocytes, and yet does not stop those in the 

 tissues from wandering away. Moreover, large doses mark- 

 edly lessen the number of white corpuscles in the blood. The 

 foregoing actions should make quinine invaluable in check- 

 ing inflammation. How great this influence may be, when' 

 quinine is given in medicinal doses, it is impossible to 

 determine. 



2. Red Blood Corpuscles. — Therapeutic doses increase 

 the number of red corpuscles. The latter diminish in size 

 in febrile conditions, but, under the action of quinine (and 

 other antipyretic agencies), regain their normal condition. 

 This follows the effect of quinine in lowering temperature, 

 and is not due to any specific power of quinine exerted on the 

 corpuscles themselves. 



3. Oxidation. — Quinine hinders the red corpuscles from 

 serving as carriers of ozone and also prevents them from 

 yielding it to the tissues. In this way functional activity of 

 tissue cells is diminished and metabolism decreased. Quinine 

 also lessens the ozonizing power of vegetable juices. The 

 alkaloid prevents the development of acidity in blood outside 

 the body, which is thought to be the product of oxidation. 



Heart and Blood Yes'sels. — Quinine in moderate doses 

 does not affect the heart or vessels appreciably. Large doses 

 at first stimulate the muscle of the heart and blood vessels 

 and cause the pulse to be accelerated and vascular tension to 

 be raised. In poisoning this effect is temporary and is' fol- 

 lowed by depression of the muscle of the vessel walls and 

 heart and the cardiac pulsations become slow and weak and 

 the blood tension falls. Death occurs immediately from fail- 

 ure of respiration, however, the pulse is at first slowed, the 

 Yagus becomes finally paralyzed in poisoning, and the pulse 

 is rapid and imperceptible in the later stages. 



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