Scientific Proceedings. 



97 



66 (209) 



The abolition of visceral pain by intramuscular injection of 

 cocaine. — A demonstration. 



By L. KAST and S. J. MELTZER. 



[From the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research^ 



The chief purpose of the demonstration was to bring out a new 

 point with regard to the effects of cocaine. But we wish to utilize 

 the experiment also in settlement of an old and frequently discussed 

 point, namely, the question of the sensation of pain in abdominal 

 viscera. According to the latest review of that subject in Nagel's 

 Handbook of Physiology, the majority of the writers are inclined 

 to deny the existence of such sensations. 



On this dog laparotomy was performed under ether anesthesia 

 and one intestinal coil was loosely fixed between the branches of a 

 long clamp ; the abdomen was again closed by sutures with the 

 exception of a small opening for the body of the clamp. Com- 

 pression of the protruding handles of the clamp meant pressure 

 upon the coil. At the time of demonstration the animal was not 

 entirely out of the anesthesia ; nevertheless even a moderate com- 

 pression of the handles sufficed to bring out an unmistakable reac- 

 tion. Simple traction had apparently no effect and rubbing the 

 clamp within the wound or rubbing the inner point of the clamp 

 against the parietal peritoneum had only a slight effect. 



This experiment demonstrates then beyond a doubt that the 

 intestines of dogs are not devoid of the sensation of pain. 



An injection of 0.02 gm. of cocaine was then made into the pec- 

 toral muscle. Five minutes later the handles of the clamp could 

 be compressed or moved in any other manner without bringing out 

 any reaction, while the animal had his eyes wide open. This 

 shows clearly that cocaine can produce not only local anesthesia but 

 also a distant anesthetic effect through the circulation. 



