Epinephric Content of the Blood. 



85 



50 (n 14) 



The epinephric content of the blood in conditions of low blood 

 pressure and "shock." 



By E. A. Bedford and H. C. Jackson. 



[From the Department of Physiology, University and Bellevue 

 Hospital Medical College.] 



The following is a brief record of experiments undertaken to 

 determine whether in low blood pressure there is an increased 

 activity of the adrenals. 



Dr. Alfred R. Allen, who presented before this society the 

 results of an experimental study of the condition of the Purkinje 

 cells in low blood pressure and shock, stated in conversation with 

 the authors that he found marked histological changes in the 

 adrenals under similar conditions. In the present series of experi- 

 ments an attempt has been made to answer the question both 

 qualitatively and within limits, quantitatively by an examination 

 of the blood of animals (dogs) taken from the adrenal vein, before 

 and after a more or less prolonged condition of low blood pressure. 



In order that blood from the adrenal might be obtained un- 

 diluted by the general venous blood, all veins, except the inferior 

 mesenteric and the left adrenal, entering the vena cava for some 

 distance on either side of the adrenal vein were ligatured. Through 

 the inferior mesenteric a canula was inserted into the vena cava, 

 in such a way that the flow of blood in the vena cava was unob- 

 structed. At the time of drawing blood, the vena cava above 

 and below the entrance of the adrenal vein was closed by clamps, 

 having rubber protected jaws. The first blood, that in the 

 enclosed segment of the vena cava, was discarded. 



Care was taken to measure the rate of flow in order to elimi- 

 nate the possibility that results obtained might be due to a 

 greater concentration of epinephrin, because of a less rapid flow 

 of blood through the organ, although its activity might not be 

 increased. At the beginning of the experiment, blood to be 

 used as control was taken from the jugular vein. 



Carotid blood pressure was taken. 



For the determination of epinephrin in the blood, an adapta- 



