section of vagi, or a small dose of atropine causes this inhibition to entirely disappear. This action on the vagi has been confirmed by Dr. G. P. Dreyer.* Szymonowicz and Cybulski found that the adrenal extract caused slowing of pulse, increase of bloodpressure, and weakness of respiration. They found the main vasomotor centre to be concerned in the rise of blood-pressure. Curare prevents the slowing effect on the heart, probably because it paralyzes the peripheral end of the vagi. Atropine and section of vagi are followed by an acceleration by the injection of adrenals. In 1 Swale Vincent found that in animals after the subcutaneous injection of adrenals there were slow muscular movements, paresis, and finally paralysis of the limbs; bloody urine, bleeding from the nostrils, rapid breathing at first, then deep and slow, and occasionally convulsions like those of asphyxia. The temperature frequently falls very low before death. The paralysis is central. The injection of glycerin extracts causes local sloughing and ulceration. * GENERAL ACTION. The following experiments show that upon frogs the subcutaneous use had no effect, except the frog is slightly stupid. The motor nerves were not paralyzed in the nerve-muscle preparation; but, when muscle-curves were taken, we observed a slow relaxation in the curve as described by Oliver and Shäfer (Fig. 1). Marey's myograph was used, the muscle being weighted with 10 grammes. The turning-fork curve represents 1/240 second. EXPERIMENT 1. Frog. Fig. 1.-1, effect of grain of adrenals, subcutaneously, on muscle-curve. 2, normal musclecurve. 3, tuning-fork curve: second. one experiment after section of the vagi they found a slowing, which they ascribed to a peripheral irritation of the vagi. They found that adrenals accelerated the respiration. The reflexes were depressed in the frog. It is excreted by the kidneys. Olivert also found that in the frog the local application of adrenal extract contracted the arterioles, even when the central nervous system was destroyed. *Science, June 11, 1897. † Journal of Physiology, volume xxi. Time. A.M. 8.30 subcu. inj. of 1 gr. of adrenal powder. 8.45 subcu. inj. of 1 gr. of adrenal powder. No effect. REFLEX ACTION. In frogs with the cerebrum ablated it at first increased the reflex activity and then permitted it to return to normal. The method used was that of Tuerck, the metronome beating 100 beats per minute. The action on the reflexes was as fugitive as it was on the circulatory rise. With the whole brain cut off no rise of reflex activity was seen. *Journal of Physiology, volume xxi. EXPERIMENT 3. Frog; cerebrum ablated; H2SO, reflex. Time. 2.15 Met. 14 2 10 2.16 inj. of 1 gr. of adrenal powder 2.20 4 2.25 2.30 2.35 2.40 2.45 2.50 12 14 12 10 CIRCULATION. The action on the circulation was studied by means of Ludwig's kymographion. When the vagi were cut or paralyzed, no change was seen in the pulse-rate, as a rule, but occasionally it was considerably increased. As normally adrenals produce a fall of pulse, there must be a stimulation of the vagi which produces it. The rise of pressure in the arterial system always ensues even when the spinal cord is cut between the occiput and atlas. These experiments confirm those of Oliver and EXPERIMENT 4. Frog; cerebrum ablated; Shäfer, who hold that elevation of the blood-pressure is due to the contraction of the muscles in the small arteries. Cybulski and Szymonowicz believe that the main vasomotor centre participates. But, if one carefully examines Fig. 2, I think he will be convinced that the rise is peripheral in origin and not central. EXPERIMENT 7. Rabbit; etherized; jug ular prepared. Press P.M. Fig. 2.-Effect of injection of grain, per jugular, of adrenals in animal with cord cut THE DEATH OF AN EOSINOPHILE. Professor of Pathology and Bacteriology in the Medical however, went no farther. Now the lower half contracted into a tight sphere and suddenly from that portion of it where the granules were massed they shot out one by one through the same opening. At first fifty or sixty of them sprang out with such force that they were carried to a distance from the cell of one and one-half red blood cell diameters. The remainder came out with less force and velocity, but, without exception, all emerged at one spot. These granules were now seen to be from one and one-half to two and one-half times longer than thick, and it was noticed that, on the occasion of their exit from the cell all came in the line of their long axis, making it appear as if the opening were not large enough to allow of their escape in the other direction. The granules were now apparently destitute of any enveloping cell-substance, no manipulation of the microscope enabling me to distinguish the slightest suggestion of cell-body. I was the more inclined to think that the granules were now free because the two halves of the cell were still to be seen in the same positicn. The granules now proceeded to undergo movements similar to those which they had previously exhibited. Sometimes a mass would move in one direction, wave this way and that, and finally return to the central body. Again two, three, or four granules, arranged. in the line of their long axes, would project themselves from one aspect of the mass, followed soon by gradually increasing numbers, the front granules going to the distance of, may be, one and one-half blood-cell diameters. SOME days since I spent over three hours observing the last movements of an eosinophile cell belonging to a drop of my own blood. The preparation was made by touching with a cover glass a rather large drop of blood and dropping the glass directly on to a slide. The temperature was that of the room. In a short time the blood at the edges coagulated, preventing in this way much further evaporation from the inner portion of the blood, this remaining fluid throughout the observation. It was made with a one-twelfth oil-immersion objective and a one-inch eye-piece. When first seen the cell was slightly larger than a red corpuscle and contained about one hundred and fifty granules which were all in active movement. The cell-movements, as a rule, were sometimes brought about by a massing of the granules at one aspect of the cell and elongation of the protoplasm in this direction, followed in time by the remainder of the cell; and again by the sudden appearance of filaments, exquisitely delicate at their free ends, shooting from the cell-body. Starting at the base in single file, at first go the granules, the base gradually widening and the granules gradually advancing more en masse. Ever and anon the cell would contract itself into a well-rounded sphere, with a diameter less than that of a red corpuscle, and again would flatten itself out over a surface of three times or more such a diameter. During one of the periods of Occasionally this projection after a varicontraction I took my eyes away from the able time would be withdrawn to the main microscope for a few moments and when body, and again the end-granules turn to again I looked there was apparently an- the right or left, make a large detour, other cell of the same kind close against closely followed by the others, and either the first, for a deep constriction was to be enter the main mass at a point quite distant seen between the two and a well marked from the point of exit or else combine with line extending between the constrictions; the granules of a similar projection from but when I saw all the granules rush another portion of the mass, which had aprapidly from the upper cell to the farthest parently come out to meet the first. At aspect of the lower cell, I knew that these another time two or three granules would were but portions of the same cell and be- wander off from the main body to a considgan to think I was about to observe a divi-erable distance and spend some minutes in sion into two. This apparent division, traveling about, now side by side, again end |