Action of Ergot. 



21 



following the third injection. Autopsy showed inflammation and 

 extensive necrosis at the point of injection. 



There were no characteristic signs of anaphylaxis observed 

 during the illness of this guinea pig, although this was probably 

 a case of death after sensitization. The electrolytic products of 

 the tubercle bacillus are being further tested as possible immuniza- 

 tion agents. 



The variable degree of the persistence of sensitiveness in and fol- 

 lowing infections has led us in the use of sera to inject a very 

 minute initial dose of serum and to repeat with a slightly increased 

 dose instead of using one large dose of the entire quantity to be 

 administered. This method was elaborated by us as shown before 

 this society. 1 



10 (827) 



Some observations on the action of ergot. 



By William Salant and C. T. Harris. 



[From the Pharmacologic Laboratory, Bureau of Chemistry, 

 Washington, D. C] 



The activity of ergot was tested by the cock's comb reaction on 

 white Leghorn roosters, the fluid extract being employed in all the 

 experiments. Alcohol was found to increase the susceptibility 

 to the drug as shown by the decreased activity of the preparation 

 after the alcohol was driven off. Smaller doses of ergot were also 

 required to produce a reaction in acute alcohol intoxication. A 

 fall of temperature was also noticed when ergot was given in this 

 condition, thus indicating a reversible action, since in the normal 

 subject the injection of ergot frequently caused a marked rise of 

 temperature. The repeated injection of ergot at intervals of 24 

 to 48 hours failed to produce any cumulative effect in the normal 

 subject. But in starvation there was a decided bluing of the comb 

 after the third injection of a sub-minimum dose, the effect becom- 

 ing more marked with successive injections. In a large number of 

 experiments carried out on normal subjects it was found that when 

 the injections are made at proper intervals the cock's comb reaction 



1 Proc. of Soc. for Exp. Biol, and Med., Feb. 21, 1912, IX, pp. 49-51. 



