52 



Scientific Proceedings (71). 



subacute type, requiring two or more months to manifest itself. 

 Under otherwise excellent surroundings it developed among 

 infants in an asylum, where the babies are weighed daily and 

 measured fortnightly. Its effect on growth could thus be carefully 

 followed. In this connection, three periods may be distin- 

 guished: one of about three months when orange juice was given, 

 a second of about four months when the infants did not obtain 

 fruit juice, and a third extending over about a half year, where 

 they once more obtained orange juice. 



It was found that in almost every instance a gradual failure 

 to gain in weight accompanied the absence of orange juice from 

 the diet, and that this failure was corrected when the juice of the 

 orange, or the orange peel (even though boiled) was again given 

 (Chart 1). In most cases increase in length was likewise retarded 

 by the scorbutic condition and this stunting was corrected by 

 means of the fruit juices; a notable instance may be seen in 

 Chart 2. 



31 (1095) 



The action of the depressor nerve on the pupil. 

 By John Auer. 



[From the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology of the 

 Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research.] 



Stimulation of the depressor nerve in white rabbits, narcotized 

 by the subcutaneous injection of 5-10 milligrams of morphine 

 sulphate per kilo, usually causes a definite diminution of the pupil. 

 This contraction in typical cases is composed of two stages: a 

 sharp, prompt, short, initial contraction followed by a slower 

 gradual one. Often only the initial contraction is observed, at 

 other times only the slower gradual contraction. 



The initial contraction, when present, is obtained as soon as 

 the nerve is stimulated, before the blood pressure begins to fall. 

 The slower contraction occurs while the bloodpressure is falling, 

 and the iris blanches at the same time. 



Stronger stimuli are necessary to cause this contraction of the 



