By the kindness of Dr. George Oliver, of Harrogate, I am per mitted to refer to some very important experiments which he has re cently made in the Physiological Laboratory of University College (London) with Professor Schafer, and which are still unpublished. An extract of the adrenal bodies, in the form of a tincture, was made by Messrs. Willows, Francis, and Butler, of which one minim is equal to one grain of the gland, and this was injected into the veins of clogs.
A dose equivalent to three grains produced, first, a remarkable increase of blood-pressure, double or treble that recorded before the injection; secondly, powerful contraction of the arteries as shown by the plethismograph applied to the limbs, the oncograph enclosing the kidney, and the arteriometer applied to the bared femoral artery —this effect, taking place even though the spinal cord and the brachial plexus were cut, was apparently of peripheral origin; thirdly, stimulation of the vagus; and fourthly, stimulation of the cardiac muscle.
Dr. Oliver finds that the properties of the extract are not impaired by boiling, and they are not due to the proteid elements or to nen rin (as has been conjectured), but probably arise from the presence of an alkaloidal body. Alcohol, whether absolute or rectified spirit, extracts the active principle.
He considers that this preparation may be found of service in Ad dison's disease, and also in cases of exophthalmic goitre.
Dr. Oliver had previously found that this extract given by the mouth in the human subject contracted the calibre of the radial ar tery (using his arteriometer), and this. led him to further experi ments on dogs, cats, and rabbits with uniformly similar results. The active agent he believes to be alkaloidal in its nature, and, as it will not dialyze, its molecule is probably very large.
Sir T. Grainger Stewart, of Edinburgh, has employed feeding with adrenal bodies in one case of Addison's disease, but without benefit.
For general tonic purposes no better remedy is known than iron, and this is best combined with strychnine. and arsenic.
The tincture of perchloride of iron in ten- or fifteen-minim doses, with four or five of the liquor strychnine hydrochloratis, and three or four of the liquor arsenici hydroohloricus,* given with glycerin, forms one of the best remedies I know of. Cod-liver oil and extract of malt are sometimes useful, but Dr. Greenhow found glycerin of more value in doses of one or two drachms.
Strong purgatives are to be carefully avoided at all times in the treatment.
Over-fatigue is especially to be guarded against.
For nausea, retching, hiccup, and qualms, I would suggest the employment of nitro-glycerin, in doses of oue or two minims of the liquor triuitrime, or it may be given in small tablets in equivalent doses of -dw grain, repeated every three or four hours.