io Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. 



9 (152) 



Reflex inhibition of the cardia in rabbits by stimulation of 

 the central end of the vagus. 



By S. J. MELTZER and JOHN AUER. 



[From the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research^ 



At the last meeting of this Society 1 we reported that by stimula- 

 tion of the central end of the vagus a tetanic contraction of the 

 entire esophagus can be produced in dogs and cats but not in rabbits. 

 We wish to report now that in continuation of these studies we 

 found that stimulation of the central end of the vagus causes a dis- 

 tinct inhibition of the cardia in rabbits. The cardia of the rabbit is 

 normally contracted in a moderate degree. Furthermore at each 

 deglutition the peristaltic movements of the esophagus terminate in 

 a characteristic contraction of the cardia — it sinks into the stomach. 

 Finally after a stimulation of the peripheral end of the vagus the 

 cardia contracts in the same characteristic way. We found that 

 these three states of contraction can be definitely inhibited by a 

 stimulation of the central end of the vagus. In the first place the 

 cardia relaxes — bulges up during such stimulation. In the second 

 place if deglutition occurs the cardia never contracts so long as 

 the central end of the vagus is being stimulated. Finally the in- 

 terruption of the stimulation of the peripheral end of the vagus 

 does not bring on a contraction of the cardia if during this time a 

 stimulation of the central end is going on. 



10 (153) 



Continuous anesthesia by subcutaneous injection of mag- 

 nesium sulphate in nephrectomized animals. 



By D. R. LUCAS and S. J. MELTZER. 



[Front the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research^ 



In the paper dealing with the anesthesia produced in animals 

 by subcutaneous injection of magnesium salts Meltzer and Auer 

 stated that animals which urinated frequently had the better chance 

 for recovery, and that urination probably carries off some of the 



1 Proceedings of this Society, 1905-06, iii, p. 74. 



