4 6 



Scientific Proceedings (26). 



spleen (splenic plexus) vaso-constrictory effects of a very pro- 

 nounced character were obtained. Immediately on stimulation 

 the flow in the splenic vein showed an extraordinary increase 

 which soon gave way to an equally pronounced decrease. The 

 flow regained its normal value sometime after the cessation of the 

 stimulation. 



The primary increase in the flow is not due to a vaso-dilation 

 of the splenic blood vessels, but to a squeezing out of the blood 

 " resident " in the spleen. Not until this amount of blood has 

 been expelled by the constricting blood-vessels, can the decrease 

 become evident. Thus, it appears that constrictory effects are 

 obtained from the first when the nerves aforesaid are stimulated. 



Although I have tested the vaso-motor power of several of 

 the fibers composing the plexus, I have succeeded in obtaining 

 only vaso-constrictory results. 



Similar constrictory effects were incited by stimulation of the 

 preganglionic fibres contained in the left splanchnic nerve. 



Vaso-constrictory effects as displayed by a decrease in the flow 

 and a fall in the venous pressure, were also obtained in the 

 mesenteric vein on stimulation of the fibers centrally and distally 

 to the ganglion mesentericum. Upon the evidence contained in 

 the curves, the vaso-motor variations in the flow of the portal 

 vein are said to be of peripheral origin. The portal vein itself 

 possesses no vaso-motor mechanism. 



25 (281) 

 A clinical viscosimeter. 



By R. BURTON-OPITZ. 



[From the Physiological Laboratory of Columbia University , at the 

 College of Physicians and Surgeons .] 



A pipette is used having a length of 20 cm. and a diameter of 

 about 0.7 mm. The capacity of the tube, measured from its tip 

 to a point above its enlarged middle portion, amounts to I c.c. 1 

 The tube is connected with a suction-pump developing from 50- 

 100 mm. H 2 0 ; a T tube is interposed so that the pressure can be 

 measured by means of a water manometer. 



1 Smaller tubes can be used, if the amount of fluid is limited. 



