oSoberyiQ^o^'"  ]  ^ctiou  of  Adouis  VeTualis  713 
tained,  about  a  half  mil .  of  alcohol-free  adonis  was  introduced  into 
the  perfusing  stream  without  producing  an  increase  in  pressure,  and 
the  effect  recorded  upon  a  drum,  by  means  of  an  electrical  drop 
recorder.  As  the  result  of  this,  there  is  shown  at  first  a  slight  but  very 
evident  slowing  of  outflow.  This  is  quickly  followed  by  a  more  rapid 
output,  and  then  as  the  drug  continues  to  act,  the  drops  come  out 
more  and  more  slowly.  This  demonstrates  a  temporary  dilatation 
of  the  blood  vessels,  which  at  first  will  cause  a  slowing  of  the  out- 
flow, but  as  the  perfusing  solution  continues  to  flow  through  the 
dilated  vessels,  the  outflow  is  quickly  increased.  If  larger  amounts  of 
adonis  are  placed  in  the  perfusing  solution,  this  first  dilatation 
cannot  be  demonstrated,  and  even  though  small  amounts  of  a  dilute 
adonis  are  used,  this  preliminary  dilatation  is  soon  followed  by  a 
gradual  and  prolonged  constriction  of  the  vessels,  so  that  the  output 
pf  the  perfusing  solution  from  the  vein  is  greatly  decreased. 
Experiments  were  carried  out  in  exactly  the  same  manner  using 
digitalis,  strophanthus,  and  squills.  These  drugs  all  produced  the 
same  effects  in  character,  though  strophanthus  very  evidently  pro- 
duces less  effect  upon  the  peripheral  blood  vessels  than  do  digitalis  or 
squills,  and  adonis  gives  results  much  more  closely  simulating  digi- 
talis than  strophanthus. 
It  is  to  be  noticed  that  the  result  of  the  effect  of  adonis  on  the 
blood  vessels  is  most  strictly  comparable  to  the  blood  pressure  trac- 
ings. The  initial  fall  in  pressure  may  be  attributed  to  a  temporary 
vaso-dilation,  and  the  prolonged  rise  in  pressure  to  a  vaso-constriction. 
R.  Joseph^^,  gave  small  doses  of  the  digitalis  drugs  and  demonstrated 
that  if  they  had  an  effect  on  the  heart,  that  they  also  had  an  effect  on 
the  blood  vessels.  This  statement  seems  somewhat  doubtful,  in  view 
of  the  fact  that  we  are  able  to  produce  a  marked  slowing  of  the  heart 
rate  without  producing  any  change  in  the  blood  pressure.  He  does, 
however,  find  that  the  action  of  digitalis  upon  the  blood  vessels  pro- 
duces a  dilatation  as  well  as  a  constriction.  He  shows  a  dilatation 
i  occurring  soon  after  the  drug  enters  the  blood  stream,  and  lasting 
but  a  short  time ;  while  the  constriction  is  more  prominent  and  is  more 
prolonged. 
An  attempt  was  made  to  determine  the  effect  of  adonis  upon  the 
^  kidneys.  A  cannula  was  placed  in  the  ureters  of  a  rabbit,  and  by 
means  of  a  drop  recorder  a  record  of  the  urine  outflow  was  obtained 
along  with  that  of  the  blood  pressure.  While  there  was  usually  a 
demonstrable  increase  in  the  output  of  urine  during  the  period  fol- 
lowing the  action  of  adonis,  still  this  action  did  not  seem  to  present 
