PRINCIPAL PHYSIOLOGICAL TESTS. 13 



trasting it with a standard solution of adrenalin freshly prepared 

 which has also been treated with iodin. By this method they claim 

 that the suprarenal glands (sheep) contain 1.47 mg. in every gram, 

 while they state that Batelli by his method found 1.45 mg. a 



Details of this method can be found in English in C. E. Vande- 

 kleed's " Method for the preparation of the active principle of the 

 suprarenal gland" (Pharmaceutical Era, 1906, vol. 36, p. 478). 



PRINCIPAL PHYSIOLOGICAL TESTS. 



Toujan, 6 one of the originators of the iodin color test, states 

 that the physiological response is more delicate than the chemical, 

 although he objects to the former as being too inconstant for vigorous 

 results. One of the difficulties with color reactions as a quantitative 

 test is the fact that nothing is known as to whether in decomposition 

 of the active principle the change in color reactions runs parallel 

 with the loss in blood-pressure-raising properties; in fact, the evi- 

 dence rather makes this doubtful. Battelli claims that certain supra- 

 renal glands on removal from the body lose their reaction to iron 

 chlorid, but retain their blood-pressure-raising properties/ When 

 injected into the vein of an animal an extract of these glands or 

 a solution of the active principle will cause a marked rise in the 

 general blood pressure associated with a temporary slowing of the 

 heart, owing to an action on the vagus centers, but if the vagi are 

 cut or atropin is given before the injection of the suprarenal prep- 

 aration, instead of the cardiac slowing there will be a marked 

 acceleration of the heart beats and the maximum blood pressure 

 effect will be obtained/ This rise in blood pressure is mainly due 

 to a local action on the small blood vessels, or rather on the sym- 

 pathetic nerve terminals in their walls/ In fact, Elliott considers 

 that a " positive reaction with adrenalin is a trustworthy proof of 

 the existence and nature of sympathetic nerves in any organ." 



a Compare" Battelli, F., and Ornstein, S. La suppleance des capsules surrenales au 

 point de vue de leur richesse en adrenaline. Comp. Rend. Hebd. Soc. de 

 Biol., vol. 61, p. 677, 1906. 

 b Toujan, G. Recherckes exper. sur l'adrenaline. These, Toulouse, 1905, p. 40. 

 c Ornstein, S. Suppleance des capsules surrenales. These, Geneve, 1906, p. 12. 

 d Elliott, T. R. Action of adrenalin. Jour. Physiol., vol. 32, p. 447, 1905. 



Mathieu, X. Action de l'adrenaline sur le coeur. Jour, de Physiol, et de Path. 



Gen., vol. 6, p. 435, 1904. 

 Kahn, R. H. Beob. iiber d. Wirkung d. Nebennierenextractes. Arch. f. Anat. u. 



Physiol., Physiol. Abtheil., 1903, p. 522. 

 Plumier, L. Action de l'adrenaline sur le circulation cardiopulmonaire. Jour, de 

 Physiol, et de Path. Gen., vol. 6, p. 655, 1904. 

 « Brodie, T. G., and Dixon, W. E. Contributions to the physiology of the lungs. 

 Jour. Physiol., vol. 30, p. 476, 1904. 

 See also von Frey. Beitr. z. Kenntniss d. Adrenalinwirkung. Sitzb. d. Phys. Med. 

 Gesells. z. Wurzburg, 1905, p. 43:50. 

 112 



