ACTION OF CHLOROFORM UPON THE HEART AND ARTERIES. 315 
-—even with (so-called) normal Ringer, and much more with Ringer containing chloro- 
form—is accompanied by cedema and a consequent permanent diminution in rate 
of flow. 
Kidney.—The strengths of solution which produce constriction in the vessels of the 
kidney are from saturated (1 in 200) to 1 in 1000 (perhaps somewhat more dilute). 
But whereas, in the entire frog, solutions weaker than those which cause constriction do 
not produce dilatation, and have no apparent effect apart from the gradual cedema which 
results from prolonged action, in the mammalian kidney the effect of weaker solutions 
is, as C. J. Marttn has stated, to cause dilatation. This result has been obtained with 
solutions of from 1 to 1500 to 1 in 20,000 (in one instance); weaker solutions gave no 
result. 
Coronary Vessels.—In employing the heart we have always taken the precaution of 
tying the pulmonary veins, to prevent loss of circulating fluid by regurgitation past the 
aortic and mitral valves. The effect of chloroform upon the coronary arteries is to produce 
constriction in all strengths from saturated to 1 in 10,000. The stronger solutions of 
chloroform cause so marked a diminution of the rate through the coronary vessels as to 
almost arrest the flow of fluid; and this is not due to arrested cardiac action, for 
on substituting normal Ringer for chloroform-Ringer the rate of flow returns to normal 
long before the action of the heart recommences. With weaker solutions the effect is 
also to produce diminished flow, and at no condition of dilution have we obtained 
evidence of dilatation of vessels. 
Inmbs.—For this purpose the hind limbs of the rabbit and cat have been used. 
The results are precisely the same as in the case of the coronary arteries of the mammal 
and the systemic arteries of the frog. Evidence of constriction has been obtained with 
all strengths from 1 in 200 (which arrests the flow altogether) to 1 in 10,000 (which 
causes a slight diminution). More dilute solutions are inactive; we have obtained no 
evidence of dilatation in these vessels. 
The following may serve as examples of the results :— 
Kidney of Rabbit : 
Amount flowing before chloroform perfusion. : : 42 €.C. 
ms re during ¥ fi (1 in 1500 Ringer) ; A9 ,, 
” ” after ” ” : . . . : . . : 35 ” 
The same Kidney, later : 
Amount flowing before chloroform perfusion : 39 cc 
Fs “A during - iy (1 in 700) VA) 
Kidneys of Kitten : 
Amount flowing before chloroform perfusion. : ‘ : é BYE OG: 
55 ne during - ia (1 in 20,000) : : 4 : ‘ 60 ,, 
. ss after F - ; é : : OR! 5 
In this and the next experiment, as the increase was progressive and there was no return towards 
normal, it is possible that the increase of rate may not have been due to the chloroform. But 
it is clear that the drug has not caused constriction of the kidney vessels. 
