The suprarenal capsules are intended for the destruction of the red blood-cor puscles, which give up their hemoglobin to the medullary cells of these organs under the form of pigment. Blood poi sons—such as formol, aniline products, mineral poisons, sodium nitrate, and uranium nitrate— cause congestion of the capsule, excess of pigment in the cells of the medullary region, and hem orrhages into the same region. The blood passes through the capsule from the centre toward the periphery, giving up its hemoglobin to the medullary sub stance or to the deeper portion of the cortical substance. When the gland has taken up all it can, other mesodermic elements assume its functions, such as white blood-globules and connective cells of the skin. This gives rise to the pig mentation of the skin in certain de structive lesions of the capsule. A. Pil liet (Arch. de Phys., vol. vii, p. 555, '96).
Brown-Sequard claimed that the pig ment derived from the disintegration of red corpuscles of the blood was destroyed in the suprarenal capsules. If this is true, any disease affecting them ciently to suspend their function should be followed by increased pigmentation and possibly give rise to all the other symptoms of the general disorder.
Two cases of Addison's disease: one a typical instance of caseous degenera tion of the adrenals with melanodenna, the other one of malignant disease of the suprarenals without discoloration of the skin. In both cases the blood-count was high. In the first the red corpuscles numbered from 6,500,000 to 7,200,000; in the second, 5,400,000. A. A. Christo manos (Berliner klin. Woch., Oct. 16, '99).
Experiments on animals for the pur pose of determining the real functions of the suprarenal bodies by several in vestigators have resulted so variously as to lead to contradictory conclusions. After total extirpation of both suprar enal capsules in one hundred and fifty three animals no changes in pigmenta tion or other symptoms of Addison's disease were observed. (Nothnagel.) In neither of these cases, however, are we informed as to how long after the extirpations the animals were kept un der observation. On the other hand, Tizzoni, who kept rabbits alive two and three-fourths years after crushing the adrenals, claimed that pathological pig mentation and some multiple degenera tions in the spinal cord developed. The experiments of Abelous and Langlois also appear to prove that animals deprived of these bodies die with symptoms of toxaemia.
The symptoms of the affection indicate an intoxication, the experiments of Abe Ions and Langlois having shown that animals deprived of the capsules die poisoned, and that their blood shows a special toxicity. If a small portion of the suprarenal parenchyma be retained, the intoxication is neutralized and life remains possible. In Addison's disease, adynamia, gastric disturbances, and the terminal symptoms of cardiac collapse (hypothermia and coma) appear to be purely toxic phenomena, although these have not always been provoked with hypodermic injections of suprarenal juice. All the symptoms do not depend upon intoxication, however, the pigmen tation of the skin and mucous mem branes being in relation to lesions of the sympathetic. Chauffard (La Semaine Med., Feb. 14, '94).
One of the functions of the capsules is to destroy a part of the used-up red corpuscles. If this excretory or depura tive function is interfered with, the cir culation of the decomposition products of haemoglobin causes Addisonian poison ing. 1151e attributed to the medullary substance. The /tile of the cortical sub stance is that of furnishing a secretion that is taken up by the lymphatics, and which is indispensable to the needs of the organism. Auld (Brit. Med. Jour., May 12, '94).
[Auld thus appears to assign to the suprarenal bodies a double function. N. S. DAVIS.] The suprarenal bodies elaborate a sub stance which has a very powerful action on the muscular tissues and more espe cially on the muscular coat of the ar teries. It causes, in very small doses, an enormous heightening of the blood-press ure, dependent upon contraction of the peripheral vessels, due to a direct action of the substance on the muscular coat, and not to any action on the medullary vasomotor centre. It also acts directly on the heart, producing augmentation and acceleration, provided the vagi are divided. On the voluntary muscles its action is such that the period of contrac tion is slightly and the period of relaxa tion greatly prolonged. On respiration more marked effects are obtained in rab bits than in dogs. In cases of Addison's disease no physiological action from the extract of the diseased capsules obtained. It is possible that the phenomena of Ad dison's disease are due to the absence of this active principle. Schiffer and Oliver (Practitioner, Sept., '95).