36 



Scientific Proceedings (87). 



In many instances the intra-arterial mject : on of o : l is followed 

 by a pronounced elevation of arteral pressure. When this occurs 

 the effect've venous pressure remains unchanged as long as the 

 heart rate is not modified to a pronounced degree. In some cases 

 the elevation of arterial pressure is accompanied by a marked 

 slowing of the heart, giving the curve an appearance very similar 

 to that following the injection of pituitary extract. From the 

 high level thus reached the pressure gradually returns to normal 

 and, after an hour or so, may reach a level considerably below 

 normal. So far as our observations have gone, however, the 

 pressure never falls as low as 50 mm. of mercury, while the venous 

 pressure is either unchanged or elevated. The animal died in 

 several hours of respiratory failure or from a progressive slowing 

 of the heart, the significance of which has not been determined. 

 The venous pressure at this stage is elevated. 



Since neither the intravenous nor the intra-arterial injection of 

 fat produces changes in the dynamics of the entire circulation 

 which are comparable to those found in shock following exposure 

 of the intestine, the hypothesis that fatty emboli, either of the 

 pulmonary or systemic vessels, is the cause of circulatory failure 

 in surgical or traumatic shock is not corroborated by our experi- 

 ments. 



References. 



1. W. T. Porter. Fat Embolism a Cause of Shock, Boston Medical and Surgical 



Journal, 1917, 176, 248; Observations sur le choc traumatique, Compl. rend. 

 Acad. d. sc., 1917, 165, 164. 



2. W. W. Bissell. Jour. Surg., Gynec. and Obst., 1917, 25, 8. 



3. A. S. Warthin. International Clinics, 1913, 4, 171. 



129 (1307) 



Lantern slide demonstration of the effect of magnesium sulphate 



upon tetanus. 



By J. Auer and S. J. Meltzer. 



[From the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology of the Rocke- 

 feller Institute for Medical Research.] 



Four pictures were shown. The first picture was that of a 

 dog five days after it had received tetanus toxin subcutaneously 



