Am.  Jour.  Pharm.j 
March,  19 17  J 
Laboratory  Notes. 
137 
Its  stimulating  action  on  the  uterus  was  one  of  the  first  proper- 
ties noted,  and  in  obstetrics  and  gynecology  pituitary  solution  has 
perhaps  found  its  greatest  use.  In  uterine  inertia  and  in  condi- 
tions where  the  rapid  termination  of  labor  has  become  desirable  or 
imperative  it  has  given  prompt  and  effective  results.  For  the  con- 
trol of  postpartum  hemorrhage  it  is  rapid  and  certain.  It  presents 
over  ergot  the  advantages  of  stability,  of  uniformity  secured  by  an 
adequate  physiological  assay,  and  of  unquestionable  sterility.  Like 
other  powerful  drugs  it  is  susceptible  of  abuse,  and  its  use  in  labor 
with  insufficient  indications  has  been  the  subject  of  some  criticism. 
In  gynecology  it  has  proved,  by  virtue  of  this  stimulating  action 
on  the  uterus  muscle,  an  efficient  hemostatic. 
The  action  of  pituitary  extract  on  the  intestine  and  bladder 
muscles  seems  to  increase  in  proportion  as  there  is  atony  and  paresis 
present.  Consequently  its  use  in  the  condition  of  loss  of  tone  and 
distention  which  may  follow  operative  procedure  has  led  to  extra- 
ordinarily good  results.  Its  action  under  these  circumstances  has 
been  so  prompt  and  so  certain  as  to  appear  almost  specific. 
That  pituitary  solution  exercises  an  effect  on  renal  function  is 
not  to  be  doubted,  and  diuresis  has  been  associated  both  experi- 
mentally and  in  some  cases  clinically  with  disturbances  of  the  pitui- 
tary. But  the  evidence  to  date  has  curiously  enough  led  to  two 
absolutely  opposite  theories — one  that  diabetes  insipidus  is  caused 
by  hyperactivity  of  the  pituitary  gland,  the  other  that  it  results  from 
pituitary  insufficiency.  However  this  may  be,  it  is  certain  that 
diabetes  insipidus  reacts  readily  to  the  injection  of  pituitary  solu- 
tion. The  output  of  urine  is  cut  down  to  an  amount  approaching 
normal,  and  the  distressing  symptom  of  thirst  altogether  relieved. 
The  effect  persists  for  hours,  so  that  two  injections  a  day  are  ordi- 
narily sufficient.  No  untoward  effects  seem  to  follow  its  continued 
use.  One  can  scarcely  assume  on  the  basis  of  this  evidence  alone 
that  the  pituitary  gland  normally  controls  renal  function,  any  more 
than  the  fact  that  its  extract  stimulates  the  uterus  must  involve  the 
conclusion  that  the  gland  is  responsible  for  normal  labor.  But  the 
unusual  physiological  activity  of  the  extract,  in  these  two  instances 
as  in  others,  have  made  it  a  therapeutic  agent  of  wide  possibilities. 
