8 



Scientific Proceedings (6i). 



important, as the excess of it may by simple adsorption cause 

 non-specific reaction, just as in the Wassermann test, the improper 

 dose of antigen may cause the fixation of the complement in 

 normal cases. The number of experiments with this test is as 

 yet too small to give a definite idea of its usefulness as compared 

 with the Wassermann test for instance (and some of the results seem 

 to show that the reaction can be missed even more easily than the 

 Wassermann reaction in treated cases) but, what is important 

 in connection with my previous work on the Abderhalden test, it 

 shows that in the cases where this reaction is present it is the 

 serum of the patient and not the substratum which offers the 

 source of dialyzable substances. 



6 (938) 



The effect of the pituitary on the isolated human uterus. (Pre- 

 liminary communication.) 



By C. C. Lieb. 



[From the Pharmacological Laboratory, College of Physicians and 



Surgeons.] 



Kehrer claims that an extract of the posterior lobe of the 

 pituitary gland is the ideal ecbolic. Indeed, he goes so far as to 

 suggest that the secretion of this portion of the gland is the 

 hormone which induces labor. 



In studying the effects of pituitary extracts on isolated human 

 Fallopian tubes and uteri my attention was arrested by the 

 difference in the response of the non-pregnant and parturient 

 organs. The contractions of the parturient tube and uterus 

 were invariably increased in rate and strength when extracts of 

 the gland were applied. The same stimulation was found when 

 an ectopic tube was studied. 



The effect of pituitary on the non-pregnant tube or uterus is 

 wholly different. Small doses usually have no effect. Large 

 doses, such as produce marked stimulation of the pregnant uterus, 

 may cause a very definite depression or they may not influence 

 the movements at all. To what is this change in the response of 



