38 Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. 



37. " On the influence of suprarenal extract upon absorption 

 and elimination," with demonstration : S. J. MELTZER and 

 JOHN AUER. 



In a series of experiments it was found that a previous intra- 

 venous injection of adrenalin will make a rabbit resistant to a surely 

 fatal dose of strychnin. (Such an experiment was demonstrated 

 to the society.) In experiments with subcutaneous injections of 

 fluorescin it was also found that in the animal which had previ- 

 ously received injections of adrenalin, the greenish-yellow color of 

 the conjunctiva, mucous membranes, and skin appeared much 

 later than in the control animal. Both results might be due to 

 delayed absorption or delayed transudation, or to both. In further 

 studies with subcutaneous injections of fluorescin it was found that 

 the color entered the blood later and in less quantity in the 

 adrenalin animal than in the control. Among other observations, 

 it was noted that the kidneys of the control animal were more in- 

 tensely colored than those of the adrenalin animal. The same dif- 

 ference was found when equal quantities of the stain were injected 

 directly into the blood stream. The lesser coloration of the kidney 

 is therefore due to the diminished elimination by the kidneys in the 

 adrenalin animal. Other related problems are still under consid- 

 eration. But the reported series of experiments already justify the 

 conclusion that suprarenal extract delays absorption as well as 

 elimination. 



The starting point for the investigation was the hypothesis, 

 stated by Dr. Meltzer in a previous publication, that since capillary 

 endothelia possess irritability and contractility, their pores are 

 surrounded by rings of contractile protoplasm which act like 

 sphincters upon them, thus increasing and decreasing the permea- 

 bility of the endothelia. The explanation for the observed facts 

 is now offered that suprarenal extract, which causes contraction of 

 the smooth muscle fibers of the arterioles, causes also an increase 

 of the contractility of the endothelia, diminishing thereby their 

 permeability, and thus reducing their powers of absorption and 

 elimination. 



38. » Mendel's law " (review) : EDMUND B. WILSON. 



A review of the more important facts in Mendel's observations, 

 together with a statement of some of the deductions to be drawn 

 from them. 



