Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
Aug.  1,  1871.  J 
Extract  of  Meat, 
361 
The  extract  is  rich  in  potassium  salts. 
Dr.  Keminerich  has  recently  published  in  Schmidt's  Jalirhi'iclier^ 
a  detailed  account  of  the  physiological  effect.  An  estimate  of  the 
nutritive  value  of  tho  extract,  just  referred  to  is  given. 
He  found  by  experiments  on  living  animals,  that  extractum  carnis 
in  the  form  of  soup,  also  meat  broths  and  gravies  of  ordinary  concen- 
tration, and  free  from  seasoning,  produce  in  the  stomach  active  hy- 
persemia  of  its  mucous  membrane,  especially  at  the  gastric  follicles. 
Hence,  he  concludes  that  extract  of  meat  increases  the  activity  of 
the  follicles  and  hastens  the  secretion  of  gastric  juice. 
There  is,  moreover,  a  noticeable  change  in  the  character  of  the 
cardiac  pulsation.  The  throb  becomes  more  frequent,  much  stronger, 
arterial  tension  is  increased,  the  pulse  is  made  full  and  more  rapid. 
He  noticed  also  that  a  person  by  taking  a  little  over  one  hundred 
grains  of  meat  extract  in  the  morning,  experiences  a  slight  elevation 
of  temperature  of  the  body  above  that  of  another  person  in  substan- 
tially the  same  condition,  and  this  elevation  is  followed  by  a  corres- 
ponding depression. 
The  increase  of  temperature  may  be  attributed  to  the  increased 
circulation  of  the  blood  and  consequently  augmented  oxidation  of  the 
tissues. 
The  extract  of  meat  affords  nutriment,  but  its  improper  use  may  be 
very  injurious. 
Dr.  Kemmerich's  study  of  the  nutritive  value  was  conducted  by 
means  of  experiments  on  two  dogs  of  the  same  birth  and  weight,  sub- 
jected to  the  same  vital  conditions.  To  the  food  of  one  the  mineral 
salts  of  meat  extract  were  added,  to  the  food  of  the  other  an  equal 
quantity  of  common  salt.  The  food  was  for  both  "  animal  albumen 
separated  from  the  aqueous  solution  of  the  muscle  of  the  horse.  The 
dog  fed  on  the  meat  extract  and  albumen  soon  weighed  more  than  the 
other.  In  the  course  of  six  weeks  the  dog  fed  on  salt  was  hardly  able 
to  stand,  while  the  other  was  bright  and  energetic. 
The  conditions  were  then  reversed,  with  very  remarkable  results. 
In  a  fortnight  the  reduced  dog  was  fully  restored,  and  in  four  weeks 
excelled  the  other  in  bodily  vigor. 
Dr.  K.  concludes  that  the  extract  of  meat  is  a  true  restorative 
stimulant,  like  alcohol  in  the  stimulant  dose,  with  the  further  advan- 
tage of  affording  elaborated  material  for  the  formation  of  tissues. — 
Bowdoin  Scientific  Review^  Brunswick,  Me.,  May  9,  1871. 
