Effect of Thyroidectomy. 



389 



In all of them the bloodsugar dropped to normal after incomplete 

 removal of the gland on the left side at the beginning, but it in- 

 creased later and has remained high. 



While their weights were, 9, 7, and 10.8 kilos, respectively, the 

 former dog showed a gain in body weight of 2.6 kilos thirty-eight 

 days after the last operation ; the second one 0.6 kilo fifteen days 

 after the last operation; and the third dog 0.4 kilo fourteen 

 days after the last operation. They all gained the losses in body 

 weight which followed pancreatectomy. 



As these dogs showed after incomplete thyroidectomy, high 

 bloodsugar and a tendency to adiposity, we believe, therefore, to 

 have produced in these animals a condition resembling the pre- 

 diabetic state in man, i.e., hyperglycemia and increase in body 

 weight. 



190 (1937) 



A chemical method of assaying strophanthus preparations. 



By ARTHUR KNUDSON and MELVIN DRESBACH. 



[From the Laboratories of Biochemistry and Physiology, Albany 

 Medical College, Albany, N. Y.] 



The method is based on the same principles as one for digi- 

 talis recently reported by us. 1 It is a colorimetric method making 

 use of Baljet's 2 reaction, which takes place between the active 

 principles of strophanthus and dilute alkaline picrate solution, 

 giving an orange red color. 



The method consists of first decolorizing the tincture, or other 

 solutions of strophanthus, with lead acetate and then removing 

 excess lead acetate with sodium phosphate. The decolorized 

 solution is then treated with an alkaline picrate solution; the char- 

 acteristic color develops in 20 minutes. As a standard for com- 

 parison a Ouabain solution is used in which the color is developed 

 in a similar manner. 



In the table below are given the results of this method com- 

 pared with those by the Hatcher and Brody 3 cat bioassay method . 



1 Knudson, A., and Dresbach, M., Jour. Pharm. and Exp. Therap., 1922, xix, 

 268. This method will be reported in full in the Jour. Pharm. and Exp. Therap. 

 1 Baljet, Henry, Schweiz. Apoth. Ztg., 1918. lvi, 71-73 and 84-88. 

 * Hatcher, R. A. and Brody, J. G., Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1910, lxxxii, 360-372. 



