53o 
Adrenalin. 
i  Am.  Jour.  Pharm^ 
\   November,  1901. 
can  be  subjected  to  analyses ;  but  as  far  as  their  chemical  reactions 
and  melting  points  are  concerned  there  is  little  doubt  to  believe  that 
the  mixture  consists  of  protocatechuic  acid  and  pyrocatechin.  The 
former  is  easily  changed  to  the  latter  while  the  fusion  is  going  on. 
Surmising  chief  production  by  the  potash  fusion  be  protocatechuic 
acid,  it  may  be  possibly  right  to  conclude  that  in  adrenalin  molecule 
there  is  such  a  residue,  C6H3(OH)2 — as  is  linking  to  the  other  residue 
C4H10NO.  I  cannot  at  present  furnish  chemical  proof  for  the  above 
supposition  but  hope  to  continue  further  investigation  during  this 
winter,  when  the  material  can  be  obtained  and  manipulated  without 
any  fear  of  deterioration,  and  report  on  the  results. 
Physiological  Properties :  The  physiological  activity  of  adrenalin 
thus  isolated  is  astoundingly  strong.  A  fraction  of  one  drop  of 
aqueous  solution  of  adrenalin  or  its  salt  in  strength  of  I  :  50,000 
blanches  the  normal  conjunctiva  within  one  minute.  It  is  the 
strongest  hemostatic  agent  known. 
The  intravenous  injection  of  adrenalin  produced  a  powerful  action 
upon  the  muscular  system  in  general,  but  especially  upon  the  mus- 
cular wall  of  the  blood  vessels  and  the  muscular  walls  of  the  heart,, 
resulting  in  an  enormous  rise  of  blood  pressure.  The  result  of  three 
intravenous  injections  of  1  c.c.  of  the  solution  of  adrenalin  chloride 
of  1  :  100,000  into  a  dog  weighing  8  kilograms  raised  the  blood 
pressure  corresponding  30  millimeters  of  mercury. 
The  above  result,  as  well  as  other  experiments,  indicates  that 
adrenalin  is  over  one  thousand  times  stronger  than  the  fresh  glands. 
The  therapeutic  applications  of  adrenalin  are  already  numerous 
and  new  uses  for  it  are  constantly  found  by  investigators.  Generally 
speaking,  adrenalin  when  locally  applied  is  the  most  powerful 
astringent  and  hemostatic  known.  It  is  useful  in  all  forms  of  inflam- 
mation and  is  the  strongest  stimulant  of  the  heart.  It  is  non~ 
irritating,  non-poisonous,  non-cumulative  and  without  injurious 
properties.  It  has  been  used  with  good  results  as  an  antidote  in 
morphin  and  opium  poisoning,  in  circulatory  failure,  in  the  preven- 
tion of  collapse  in  anesthesia,  and  in  allied  conditions.  It  is  invalu- 
able in  carrying  out  bloodless  operations  in  nose,  eye,  ear  and  throat 
work.  It  has  also  given  good  results  in  some  cases  of  deafness,  hay 
fever,  nasal  hemorrhage  and  various  forms  of  heart  disease.  Such 
authorities  as  Doctors  Mayer,  Wilson,  Bates,  Reichert,  Ingals,. 
Stucky,  Chambers,  Curtis,  Swain  and  many  others  have  reported 
very  favorable  results. 
