io8 



Scientific Proceedings (74). 



following methods: by tickling the pharynx with a probe intro- 

 duced through the window in the trachea, by injecting water or 

 saline solution into the pharynx by the same route, or by electrical 

 stimulation of the superior laryngeal nerve. The occurrence of 

 peristaltic or local contractions of the various parts of the thoracic 

 esophagus were observed by means of a catheter introduced into 

 the stomach end of the esophagus. The catheter had around its 

 esophageal end a small balloon of thin rubber; its outer end was 

 connected with a water manometer. Magnesium sulphate was 

 used in M/4 solution and was infused into the jugular vein from a 

 Mariotte burette. 



We shall report now our results very briefly. Before mag- 

 nesium was given each initial act of deglutition was followed, as a 

 rule, by a primary peristaltic contraction of every part of the 

 thoracic esophagus. Further, stimulation of the esophagus, by 

 moving of the catheter within the esophagus to a new place, or 

 by a temporary distension of the balloon by air, brought on, as a 

 rule, several consecutive contractions of the part in which the 

 balloon was located (secondary peristalsis). 



Some time after magnesium was permitted to run into the 

 jugular vein we met first a phase in which the primary peristalsis 

 disappeared, that is, no contraction of any part of the thoracic 

 esophagus was observed to follow the initial act of deglutition. 

 During this early stage the secondary peristalsis was in nearly all 

 cases still present and quite normal; nor was the primary act of 

 deglutition noticeably affected. When, however, more of the 

 solution was infused, a stage was encountered in which also the 

 secondary peristalsis was practically gone, while the initial act of 

 deglutition was still only moderately weakened, and stimulation 

 of the vagus still caused a fairly good contraction of the esophagus. 

 A still further inflow of the magnesium solution finally greatly 

 weakened, or even completely abolished, the initial act of deglu- 

 tition also. 



From these observations it is evident in the first place, that the 

 first effect of the magnesium consists in a weakening or complete 

 abolition of the primary peristalsis, which means that the in- 

 hibitory action of magnesium was exerted during this first phase 

 exclusively or essentially upon the transmission of the sensory 



