Since it has been ascertained by very careful experiments that the healthy suprarenal capsules contain an active substance capable of producing a decided stimulant and tonic effect on the cardiac and other ganglia of the sympathetic nervous system, and of efficiently in creasing the vasomotor functions with slow heart-beat and greater blood-press ure, their use in the treatment of Ad dison's disease has been tested, more or less, by almost every physician having a case under his care. Oliver, who has been most active in investigating the action of preparations of the suprarenal capsules and their value in the treatment of Addison's disease, says they may be used in the form of alcoholic tincture and of either fluid or dry extract. The best mode of administration is by the mouth, and of the dry extract in the form of tablets of 2 grains each, one of which may be taken three times a day, and slowly increased to five or six in the twenty-four hours.
Extract or tincture of suprarenal cap sules tried in several cases. Good results obtained not only as a means of restor ing muscular strength and improving the general condition, but sometimes as a true curative remedy. Maragliano (Riforma Med., Dec. 4, '94); Shoemaker (Univ. Med. Mag., Feb., '95); Lloyd Jones (Brit. Med. Jour., Aug. 24, '95); Oliver (Brit. Med. Jour., Aug. 31, '95).
Case of a man, aged 44 years, some what addicted to alcoholic excesses and subject to occasional attacks of asthma, who, during the months of February, March, and April, developed all the char acteristic symptoms of severe Addison's disease. During the month of May he received a subcutaneous injection of suprarenal capsular juice, 1 cubic centi metre every two days. During one month of this treatment his appetite and strength had returned and he had gained four kilogrammes in weight. On the 14th of June he had a violent quarrel with a neighbor, and all his former bad symptoms began to return, and caused his death on the 14th of July. No autopsy was made. Spillmann (Rev. Mod. de l'Est., Jan. 15, '96).
Case of a man, 46 years of age, suffer ing from pulmonary tuberculosis and Addison's disease with marked pigmen tation of the skin and of the mucous membrane of the palate, treated with an extract prepared from the fresh suprar enal glands of the pig extracted and preserved in glycerin. One drachm of the extract corresponded to one suprar enal gland, and the patient at first was given '/, drachm three times a day. This treatment was continued for eight months, and the patient was discharged in a greatly improved state, having gained in weight and strength and the pulse-frequency being much lessened.
Four months later the patient was still in good health. William Osler (Inter. Med. Mag., Feb., '96).
Case in which the symptoms were typ ical and characteristic of Addison's dis ease. Very great improvement resulted from the administration of suprarenal extract. On careful examination after death both suprarenal capsules were ab sent, the right being entirely, and the left almost entirely, replaced by fat. Byrom Bramwell (Brit. Med. Jour., Jan. 9, '97).
Forty-eight cases of Addison's disease from literature, which were treated with adrenal gland. Of these, 6 seemed cured, 22 were improved, 18 unimproved, and 2 became worse. In many of the cases there was such a grave tuberculosis of other organs as to preclude expectation of marked improvement. F. P. Kinni cutt (Amer. Jour. Med. Sci., July, '97).
Man of 49, with well-marked Addison's disease, treated with tablets of suprar enal gland, beginning with 10 grains daily and increasing up to 200 grains. At the end of the year the man was en tirely well. C. W. Suckling (Brit. Med. Jour., May 2S, '9S).
Case of Addison's disease in all respects very typical, and in addition a small phthisical lesion at apex of one lung. He was given daily 3 V, to drachms of fresh suprarenal glands of beef, veal, or mutton, and also during some part of the time hypodermic injections of solution of suprarenals in glycerin and water. For five months there was no obvious im provement. After further lapse of time strength began gradually to return and pigmentation to diminish in intensity, so that finally he was able to resume his employment, and was still at work three years later. Bklere (Semaine Med., Mar. 2. '98).
Case of Addison's disease treated with the fresh suprarenal gland, with distinct improvement of general health, but pig mentation remained unchanged, and pa tient died two years later. Hayem (Sem. Med., Mar. 2, '98).
Case of Addison's disease in a man aged 54 years. The symptoms of the disease were marked. One-twelfth grain of the extract of suprarenal glands of sheep was given three times daily. Treatment has been continued for two years at intervals. Asthenia, nausea, faintness, and pigmentation have almost entirely disappeared. Twice, when the extract could not be obtained for ten days, attacks of severe faintness, clammy sweats, and muscular twitehings, with fever and bounding pulse, resulted; they were relieved on the exhibition of the drug. R. A. Bate (Amer. Pract. and News, vol. xxviii, p. 90, '99).