Internal secretion of mammae. 



49 



pig aborted in 60 hours, giving premature birth to two fetuses, 

 each 6.5 cm. in length, and 60 hours after this she aborted a 

 second time, giving premature birth to one fetus 7 cm. long. 



It is evident from these results that the colostrum of the normal 

 cow contains a substance, or substances, capable of causing a 

 premature onset of labor in pregnant guinea pigs. This substance 

 is also present in the colostrum of cows ill with parturient paresis. 

 It resists boiling and is probably of the nature of a hormone. Our 

 results bring to light a new and hitherto unrecognized correlation 

 between the mammary glands and the uterus. According to 

 Lane-Claypon and Starling the fetus through its internal secre- 

 tions stimulates the hypertrophy and lacteal activity of the mam- 

 mary gland. It is evident from our experiments that the internal 

 secretions of the mammary gland stimulate the pregnant female 

 to labor and the birth of the offspring. 



35 (644) 



Some vaso-reacting substances in blood serum. 

 By J. P. ATKINSON and 0. B. FITZPATRICK. 



[From the Department of Health Laboratories, New York City.] 



These observations supplement our previous articles on serum 

 digestive processes. All the reactions were obtained by the 

 kymograph, the pressure in the carotid of the normal dog being 

 recorded with a mercury manometer. The injections were made 

 into the femoral vein. The normal sera (horse and rabbit) give 

 a slight rise, whether freshly drawn or after standing for some 

 weeks as far as we have observed. 



The whole serum of a horse which had been injected with 800 

 c.c. of strong diphtheria toxin gave no reaction with the serum 

 drawn the first three days after the injection. The serum of the 

 4th, 5th, and 6th day each gave depressions, when given in 8 c.c. 

 volumes. 



Another series of sera from the same horse, bled 6 weeks later 

 gave well-marked depressions, with the sera drawn on the 3d, 4th. 

 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th day after the toxin injection. 



Several specimens of refined antidiphtheria sera, some of which 

 had given rise to rashes in humans, gave well-marked depressions. 



