—u" y THE DIRECT ACTION 
OF 
CALCIUM, SODIUM, POTASSIUM, AND 
AMMONIUM SALTS ON THE BLOODVESSELS. 
BY 
H. G. BEYER, M.D., M.R.C.S., 
PASSED ASSISTANT SURGEON U.S N. ; HONORARY CURATOR, SECTION MATERIA 
MEDICA, U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
FROM 
THE MEDICAL NEWS, 
September 4, 1886. rFrom The Medical News, September 4, 1886.] 
THE DIRECT ACTION OF CALCIUM, SODIUM, 
POTASSIUM, AND AMMONIUM SALTS 
ON THE BLOODVESSELS. 
The experiments of Ringer on the influence of 
certain calcium and potassium salts on the con- 
tractility of the frog’s ventricle, have attracted well- 
deserved attention from the profession. 
In the several papers published in the Journal of 
Physiology, he has shown that very minute quantities 
of potassium and calcium salts possess the power of 
greatly modifying the contractility of the heart. 
He pointed out that even so minute a quantity of 
potassium chloride as i in 15,000, and of calcium 
chloride as 1 in 10,000, is capable of promoting the 
normal cardiac contractility, provided they are 
brought in contact with the ventricle in the presence 
of a three-quarter per cent, saline medium. 
Ringer, while not attempting to explain how such 
minute quantities of inorganic salts can influence so 
profoundly the organized structures of the heart, 
thinks it not improbable that the salts do not enter 
into direct combination with the molecules of the 
muscular tissue, or, if any combination does take 
place, that it is of an extremely loose character, since 
the salts are easily dislodged and washed away by the 
mere circulation of a fluid devoid of these salts. 2 
BEYER, 
Kronecker, and some of his pupils, find that if a 
ventricle is fed with a 0.6 per cent, normal saline 
solution, contractility soon ceases, and a strong in- 
duction-shock will not excite contractions. They 
conclude that the suspension of contractility depends 
on the saline solution washing out all the nutritive 
material from the cavities of the heart and the meshes 
of its spongy substance. 
Merunowicz (quoted by Ringer) found that the 
dissolved ash of incinerated blood furnishes a good 
fluid for supporting the heart’s contractility, and 
Gaule concluded that the essential agent in the ash 
which sustains the contractility is an alkaline car- 
bonate. Gaule also found that the addition of an 
alkaline sodium salt, even in small quantity, to saline 
solution, enables it to sustain contractility longer 
than when simple saline solution is used. 
Gaule, therefore, differs from Kronecker, and 
maintains that the heart can feed on its own tissues, 
and derive from them all the materials necessary for 
a contraction. Kronecker, on the other hand, in- 
sists that the frog’s heart does not feed on its own 
substance, and that as soon as nutritive fluid is with- 
drawn its contractility ceases. 
We think that Ringer has shown conclusively 
that certain alkaline salts will prolong the contrac- 
tility of the heart, and calcium salts prolong it more 
than sodium salts. Ringer very correctly observed 
that the character of the contractions underwent 
much alteration under the influence of these salts, 
but that the addition to the circulating fluid of a 
physiological quantity of a potassium salt entirely 
obviated these alterations, adding greatly to the 
duration of the contractility. It was found that 
while calcium salts promoted the contractility, potas- 
sium salts favored the relaxation of the ventricle. ACTION OF SALTS ON THE BLOODVESSELS. 
3 
Thus, by adding to normal saline solution certain 
small quantities of bicarbonate of sodium, chloride 
of potassium, and chloride of calcium, Ringer finally 
succeeded in obtaining a circulating medium by 
means of which normal contractility could be main- 
tained for hours. 
On looking over the literature of the subject, I 
found that very little indeed had been done to ascer- 
tain the nature of the action of these salts on the 
vascular system. The interest and importance which 
attaches to the results of Ringer’s experiments on the 
heart made it appear very desirable that something 
more should be done with a view of ascertaining the 
exact influence of these salts on the vascular system. 
With this object in view, the experiments which 
follow were made. 
On account of the great scarcity of frogs in mid- 
winter these experiments were all made with terra- 
pins. My method consisted in cutting out the heart 
and inserting canulas into the aortic trunks, and one 
canula into the sinus. The aortic canulas were con- 
nected with Mariotte’s flasks, placed at a certain 
height above the body of the animal, from which 
flasks liquid was made to flow into the arteries. This 
liquid, after circulating through the capillaries and 
veins, was drained off from the sinus into a beaker, 
and measured at definite intervals. After this out- 
flow had become constant, circulating fluid, plus the 
drug, was substituted for the normal circulating fluid, 
and the action of the drug on the vessels determined 
from the change which took place in the amount of 
the outflow in a unit of time. A decreased outflow 
indicated increased resistance to the flow of the fluid 
through the vessels, or, in other words, a constriction 
of them, and an increased outflow, a dilatation of 
them. 4 
In most of my published experiments on the action 
of drugs on the heart and bloodvessels, I made use 
of a circulating fluid which I termed “Ringer’s 
saline,” on account of his having first proposed it 
as a good substitute for the normal salt solution 
wherever the use of the latter might be indicated. As 
a diluent for mammalian blood to be used in experi- 
ments on the isolated heart of cold-blooded animals, 
it certainly was found to surpass by far the ordinary 
seventy-five one-hundredths per cent, salt solution 
in keeping the heart active and alive to the action 
of drugs as well as to other influences. 
But in experimenting with different alkaline salts 
on the bloodvessels, I was naturally obliged to fall 
back upon normal salt solution as the standard, and, 
therefore, the first experiments were made with a 
view of ascertaining the influence on the bloodves- 
sels of Ringer’s saline as compartd with that of nor- 
mal salt solution. 
Experiment XLI.—March 23, 1886. Terrapin 1250 
grms. Inflow canulas in right and left arterial trunks. 
Outflow canula in sinus. Arterial pressure 18 c. m. 
Venous pressure o. Circulating fluids : Ringer’s saline 
and normal salt solution (0.75 per cent.). 
BEYER, 
Time 
P. M. 
Temp. 
Cent. 
Total 
Outflow 
Circulating fluids were supplied 
to the vessels at the time men- 
from 
to 
outflow 
per min. 
tioned on same line in second 
3-i4 
3-16 
160 
49 
24-5 
column. 
On normal salt solution. 
16 
18 
5° 
25 
18 
20 
49 
24*5 
20 
22 
52 
26 
22 
24 
16 
52 
26 
24 
26 
52 
26 
On Ringer’s saline. 
26 
28 
53 
26.5 
28 
30 
52 
26 
30 
32 
16 
26 
13 
32 
34 
3° 
15 
34 
36 
30 
15 Time 
P. M. 
Temp. 
Total 
Outflow 
Circulating fluids were supplied 
to the vessels at the time men- 
from 
to 
Cent. 
outflow. 
per min. 
tioned on same line in second 
36 
38 
32 
16 
column. 
38 
40 
16 
30 
15 
40 
42 
29 
H-5 
On normal salt solution. 
42 
44 
20 
IO 
44 
46 
24 
12 
46 
48 
16 
26 
13 
48 
50 
26 
13 
50 
52 
28 
14 
52 
54 
30 
15 
54 
56 
16 
32 
l6 
56 
58 
35 
17-5 
58 
4.00 
37 
18.5 
4.00 
02 
38 
19 
02 
04 
38 
19 
04 
06 
40 
20 
06 
08 
16 
40 
20 
On Ringer’s saline. 
08 
10 
35 
17-5 
10 
12 
30 
IS 
12 
14 
21 
10.5 
14 
17 
16 
3i 
10.3 
17 
19 
21 
10.5 
19 
21 
21 
10.5 
21 
23 
20 
10 
23 
25 
16 
18 
9 
On normal salt solution. 
25 
27 
16 
8 
27 
29 
19 
9-5 
29 
3i 
22 
11 
3i 
33 
16 
25 
12.5 
33 
35 
30 
15 
35 
37 
32 
16 
37 
39 
34 
17 
39 
4i 
16 
38 
19 
4i 
43 
40 
20 
43 
45 
42 
21 
Ended. 
ACTION OF SALTS ON THE BLOODVESSELS. 
5 
Experiment XLI. is one out of the three experi- 
ments made with regard to the influence of Ringer’s 
saline on the bloodvessels as compared with that of 
normal salt solution. They all show very clearly that 
Ringer’s saline possesses over normal salt solution the 
power of greatly contracting the bloodvessels. This 6 
BEYER 
contraction, as shown in this experiment, takes place 
gradually, but the dilatation which follows the re- 
admission of normal salt solution is very slow. 
The composition of this fluid is as follows : 
Normal salt solution . . . (0.75 per cent.) 100 c. c. 
Calcium chloride solution . (1 : 390) 5 “ 
Sodium bicarbonate solution (0.50 per cent.) 2.5J “ 
Potassium chloride solution (1.0 per cent.) 0.75 “ 
Mix and filter. 
The question naturally arose as to which one of 
the different constituents of this fluid gave rise to 
the contraction of the vessels. Several experiments 
were made with regard to this point, but Experiment 
XLII. will suffice to show that it was the chloride of 
calcium. As indicated in the heading, three differ- 
ent circulating fluids were made use of: First, nor- 
mal salt solution ; second, normal salt solution to 
which had been added potassium chloride in the 
exact proportion in which this was contained in 
Ringer’s saline; third, Ringer’s saline, the potassium 
chloride left out. Potassium chloride, therefore, 
was used in extremely small quantities, the solution 
containing less than 1 : 10,000. 
This experiment shows very clearly that normal 
salt solution and potassium chloride give rise to 
great dilatation of the bloodvessels, while, on the 
other hand, Ringer’s saline without potassium chlo- 
ride causes their contraction. As may be seen in the 
experiment, the vessels, contracted by Ringer’s saline 
minus potassium chloride, are gradually dilated by 
normal salt solution, and this dilatation is still further 
increased upon the admission of normal salt solution 
plus potassium chloride. Ringer’s saline now re- 
admitted, within a very few minutes may be noticed 
to reduce the quantity of the outflow to one-third its former amount, therefore, also reducing the calibre 
of the vessels in about the same proportion ; normal 
salt solution reestablished the normal calibre of these 
vessels, while potassium chloride, again, caused them 
to dilate. 
From this and other experiments, all concordant, 
it is plain that everything pointed to the chloride of 
calcium as being the cause of the contraction of the 
vessels, and, at the same time, to the potassium chlo- 
ride as causing their dilatation. Both having been 
used in the same proportion in which they are con- 
tained in Ringer’s saline—that is, in very minute 
quantities—we may conclude (i) that calcium chlo- 
ride, even in very small doses, gives rise to con- 
traction, and potassium chloride in equally minute 
doses to dilatation of the bloodvessels in the terrapin. 
Experiment XLII.—March 24, 1886. Terrapin 990 
grms. Inflow canulas in right and left arterial trunks. 
Outflow canula in sinus. Arterial pressure 18 c. m. 
Venous pressure o. Circulating fluids: (a) normal salt 
solution, (b) normal salt solution + potassium chloride, 
(c) Ringer’s saline—potassium chloride. 
action of salts on the bloodvessels. 
7 
Time 
P. M. 
Temp. 
Total 
Outflow 
The circulating fluids were sup- 
plied to the vessels at the time 
from 
to 
Cent. 
outflow. 
per min. 
mentioned on the same line in 
3-°7 
3-°9 
l6° 
28 
14 
the second column. 
Normal salt solution(a). 
09 
II 
SO 
15 
II 
13 
30 
15 
13 
15 
16 
29 
14-5 
IS 
17 
31 
15-5 
Normal salt solution 4- potas- 
17 
19 
35 
i7-5 
sium chloride(c). 
19 
21 
48 
24 
21 
23 
16 
48 
24 
23 
25 
50 
25 
25 
27 
45 
22.5 
27 
29 
16 
35 
i7.5 
29 
31 
3i 
15-5 
31 
33 
3° 
15 
33 
35 
32 
16 8 
BEYER, 
Time 
P. M. 
Temp. 
Total 
Outflow 
The circulating fluids were sup- 
plied to the vessels at the time 
from 
to 
Cent. 
outflow 
per min. 
mentioned on the same line in 
35 
37 
32 
16 
the second column 
On normal salt solution(al. 
37 
39 
16 
36 
18 
39 
4i 
40 
20 
41 
43 
42 
21 
43 
45 
47 
23 5 
45 
47 
16 
46 
23 
47 
49 
48 
24 
49 
5i 
48 
24 
5i 
53 
48 
24 
On normal salt solution + 
53 
55 
16 
52 
26 
[potassium chloride(c). 
55 
57 
62 
31 
57 
59 
62 
31 
59 
4.01 
63 
31-5 
4.01 
03 
67 
33-5 
On Ringer's saline — potas- 
03 
06 
16.5 
76 
25-3 
[sium chloridef^). 
06 
08 
36 
18 
08 
10 
24 
12 
10 
12 
22 
11 
12 
14 
23 
11-5 
14 
16 
16.5 
23 
II-5 
16 
18 
22 
11 
On normal salt solution(rj). 
18 
20 
26 
13 
20 
22 
30 
15 
22 
24 
32 
16 
24 
26 
16.5 
30 
15 
26 
28 
31 
15-5 
On normal salt solution 4- 
28 
30 
36 
18 
[potassium chloridek). 
30 
32 
42 
21 
32 
34 
16.5 
48 
24 
34 
36 
54 
27 
[slight oedema. 
36 
38 
60 
3° 
Observations discontinued; 
In order to test still further the action of lime salts 
on the vessels, a saturated solution of sulphate 
of lime was made, and the solution converted into 
normal salt solution by simply adding the required 
amount of chloride of sodium. In addition, a solu- 
tion of bromide of potassium was made containing 
one gramme of the bromide in 3000 cubic centimetres 
of normal saline solution. Several observations were 
made with the solution of bromide of potassium, but ACTION OF SALTS ON THE BLOODVESSELS. 
9 
since they were all concordant, one will here suffice 
to show the effect it produces on the vessels. 
Experiment XLV. clearly shows the influence of 
both calcium and potassium salts on the vessels in 
larger doses than had been used in previous experi- 
ments. It was found that under sulphate of lime 
the quantity of the outflow was gradually diminished 
to about one-fifth normal, and that, therefore, the 
calibre of the vessels must have become reduced in 
•about the same proportions. Bromide of potassium, 
on the other hand, gave rise to an increased outflow, 
hence must have dilated the vessels. 
The conclusions, therefore, are obvious, namely, 
calcium salts, in comparatively large doses, cause 
contraction, and potassium salts, in medium doses, 
cause dilatation of the bloodvessels, in the case of 
the terrapin. 
Experiment XLV.—March 27, 1886. Terrapin 460 
grms. Inflow canulas in right and left aortic trunks. 
Outflow canula in sinus. Arterial pressure 16 c. m. 
Venous pressure o. Circulating fluids : normal salt solu- 
tion, saturated solution of calcium sulphate made into 
normal salt solution (0.75 per cent.), normal salt solu- 
tion and bromide of potassium 3000 c. c. : 1. 
Time 
P. M. 
Temp 
Total 
Outflow 
from 
to 
Cent. 
outflow 
per min. 
3.°6 
3 °8 
l6° 
28 
14 
Normal salt solution. 
08 
10 
28 
14 
IO 
12 
29 
14-5 
12 
14 
28 
M 
14 
16 
29 
14-5 
On calcium sulphate solution 
l6 
18 
16 
24 
12 
18 
20 
21 
10.5 
20 
22 
14 
7 
22 
24 
8 
4 
On normal salt solution. 
24 
26 
7 
3-5 
26 
28 
7 
3-5 
28 
3i 
16 
12 
4 
31 
33 
12.5 
6.2 
33 
36 
3i 
10.3 10 
BEYER, 
Time p. m. 
Temp 
Total 
Outflow 
from 
to 
Cent. 
outflow. 
per min. 
36 
38 
23 
II-5 
38 
40 
27 
13-5 
40 
42 
28 
14 
On calcium sulphate solution. 
42 
44 
16 
26 
13 
44 
46 
21 
I°-5 
46 
48 
13 
6-5 
48 
5° 
11 
5-5 
On normal salt solution. 
50 
53 
13 
4-3 
53 
55 
8 
4 
55 
57 
11 
5-5 
57 
59 
13 
6-5 
59 
4.01 
15 
7-5 
4.01 
°3 
18 
9 
03 
°5 
20 
10 
05 
08 
3i 
10.3 
08 
10 
24 
12 
10 
12 
25 
12.5 
On solution of bromide of 
12 
15 
39 
13 
[potassium. 
15 
17 
28 
14 
17 
20 
46 
15-3 
20 
22 
35 
I7-5 
22 
24 
36 
18 
24 
26 
4i 
20.5 
[considerable oedema. 
26 
28 
48 
24 
Observations discontinued; 
Experiment L.—April i, 1886. Terrapin 1205 grins. 
Inflow canulas in right and left aortic trunks. Outflow 
canula in sinus. Venous pressure o. Arterial pressure 
14 c.m. Circulating fluids: Normal salt solution, solu- 
tion of sodium iodide in normal salt solution 1 : 1000, 
solution of sodium bromide in same proportion.  
Circulating fluids were supplied 
Time 
P. M. 
Temp 
Total 
Outflow 
to the vessels at the time men- 
from 
to 
Cent. 
outflow. 
per min. 
tioned on the same line in the 
second column 
2-55 
257 
l8° 
18 
9 
On normal salt solution. 
57 
59 
18 
9 
59 
3.01 
18 
9 
3.01 
03 
18 
9 
°3 
05 
18 
19 
9-5 
05 
07 
18 
9 
On sodium iodide solution. 
07 
09 
20 
10 
09 
11 
26 
13 
11 
13 
32 
16 
' 13 
IS 
18 
24 
12 
15 
17 
16 
8 
■ 17 
19 
10 
5 
On normal salt solution. 
19 
21 
8 
4 
21 
23 
10 
5 
23 
25 
18 
15 
7-5 
25 
27 
14 
7 
27 
29 
14 
7 
29 
3i 
H 
7 
3i 
33 
14 
7 
33 
35 
18 
14 
7 
On sodium iodide solution. 
35 
37 
15 
7-5 
37 
39 
16 
8 
39 
4i 
16 
4T 
43 
18 
43 
45 
22 
45 
47 
18.5 
26 
On normal salt solution. 
47 
49 
14 
49 
5i 
13 
5i 
53 
18 
53 
55 
19 
55 
57 
18.5 
18 
On sodium bromide solution. 
57 
59 
18 
59 
4.01 
18 
4.01 
°3 
32 
°3 
05 
36 
°5 
07 
18 5 
34 
07 
°9 
24 
09 
11 
20 
11 
13 
12 
13 
15 
10 
On normal salt solution. 
15 
17 
... 
12 
17 
19 
18 5 
15 
19 
21 
15 
21 
23 
14 
23 
25 
14 
On sodium bromide solution. 
ACTION OF SALTS ON THE BLOODVESSELS. 
11 12 
BEYER, 
Time p. m. 
Temp. 
Total Outflow 
Circulating fluids were supplied 
to the vessels at the time men 
from 
to 
Cent. 
outflow, per min. 
tioned on the same line in the 
25 
27 
15 
second column 
27 
29 
18.5 
22 
29 
31 
28 
31 
33 
33 
33 
35 
38 
35 
37 
18 5 
28 
37 
39 
24 
On sodium iodide solution. 
39 
4i 
20 
4i 
43 
15 
43 
45 
13 
45 
47 
10 
47 
49 
18-5 
11 
49 
5i 
10 
5i 
53 
9 
53 
55 
9 
On normal salt solution. 
55 
57 
5-5 
57 
59 
6 
59 
5-03 
16 
5-03 
07 
26 
07 
09 
12 
09 
11 
14 
11 
13 
14 
13 
15 
19 
15 
Observations discontinued. 
The observations recorded in Experiment L. show 
that bromide and iodide of sodium in large doses 
give rise to dilatation of the bloodvessels, which 
dilatation is followed by contraction of the same. 
The same result was obtained when these salts were 
used in the proportion of i : 5000, with the excep- 
tion that the dilatation produced lasted longer, and 
the contraction came on much later, and was much 
more gradual. Sodium salts, therefore, differ ma- 
terially from those of calcium and potassium in their 
effects upon the bloodvessels. 
Experiment XLVII.—March 30, 1886. Terrapin 
1370 grms. Inflow canulas in right and left aortic trunks. 
Outflow canula in sinus. Arterial pressure 16 c. m. 
Venous pressure o. Circulating fluids : Normal salt solu- 
tion, sodium bicarbonate in normal salt solution 1 : 1000, 
potassium iodide in normal salt solution 1 : 1500. ACTION OF SALTS ON THE BLOODVESSELS. 
13 
Time 
P. M. 
Temp 
Total 
Outflow 
(rom 
to 
Cent. 
outflow. 
per min. 
2.40 
2.42 
x6° 
20 
IO 
On normal salt solution. 
42 
44 
20 
IO 
44 
46 
20 
IO 
46 
48 
21 
10.5 
48 
50 
22 
II 
On sodium bicarbonate solu- 
50 
52 
16 
24 
12 
tion. 
52 
54 
28 
14 
54 
56 
35 
17-5 
56 
58 
4i 
20-5 
On normal salt solution 
58 
3 o° 
33 
16.5 
3 00 
02 
16 
24 
12 
02 
04 
24 
12 
On sodium bicarbonate solu- 
04 
07 
40 
13-3 
tion. 
07 
09 
32 
l6 
°9 
11 
16 
28 
14 
11 
13 
22 
II 
13 
15 
20 
IO 
15 
17 
16 
8 
17 
20 
18 
6 
20 
23 
12 
4 
On normal salt solution. 
23 
26 
14 
4.6 
26 
28 
16 
11 
5-5 
28 
3° 
14 
7 
3° 
32 
16 
8 
On potassium iodide solu- 
32 
34 
16 
8 
tion. 
34 
36 
19 
9-5 
36 
38 
16.5 
21 
IO-5 
38 
40 
23 
n-5 
40 
42 
24 
12 
42 
44 
26 
13 
44 
46 
28 
14 
46 
48 
3° 
IS 
48 
50 
165 
35 
i7-5 
50 
52 
36 
18 
52 
54 
40 
20 
On normal salt solution. 
54 
56 
33 
16.5 
56 
58 
29 
i4-5 
58 
4.00 
27 
i3-5 
4 00 
02 
17 
20 
10 
02 
04 
20 
10 
On potassium iodide solu- 
04 
06 
24 
12 
tion. 
06 
08 
26 
13 
08 
10 
29 
14-5 
10 
12 
3i 
i5-5 
12 
14 
33 
16.5 
14 
16 
17 
36 
18 
16 
18 
42 
21 
[cedema. 
18 
20 
48 
24 
Observations discontinued ; 14 
BEYER, 
Experiment XLVII. shows that bicarbonate of 
sodium, like bromide and iodide of sodium, causes 
dilatation of the bloodvessels, which dilatation is 
followed by a contraction; it shows, furthermore, 
that iodide of potassium, like chloride of potassium, 
gives rise to a dilatation of the bloodvessels, which 
dilatation, even when very large doses are used, is 
permanent, and at no time followed by contraction. 
We may, therefore, safely conclude that sodium salts 
give rise to dilatation followed by contraction of the 
bloodvessels, and that potassium salts, in large as well 
as small doses, always cause dilatation of the vessels. 
In the next experiment the bromide of potassium 
was used in the proportion of i of the bromide to 
3000 cubic centimetres of normal salt solution, or 
about half the strength of the potassium iodide solu- 
tion used in previous experiments. The effect on 
the bloodvessels may be seen to be identical with 
that produced by the iodide, thus showing that it is 
not due to the iodine or bromine in combination 
with potassium, but rather to the potassium part of 
these salts. This may also be inferred from the fact 
that the chloride of potassium, too, produces the 
same effect upon the bloodvessels, namely, it causes 
their dilatation in small as well as large doses. 
In connection with the dilatation of the vessels 
produced by potassium salts, considerable oedema 
was invariably noticed; this was absent in experi- 
ments with calcium and sodium salts. 
Experiment XLIV.—March 26, 1886. Terrapin 650 
grms. Inflow canulas in right and left aortic trunks. 
Outflow canula in sinus. Arterial pressure 18 c.m. 
Venous pressure o. Circulating fluids: Normal salt 
solution, solution of potassium bromide 1 in normal salt 
solution 3000. Time p. m. 
Temp 
Total 
Outflow 
from 
to 
Cent. 
outflow. 
per min. 
3.°8 
3.10 
l8° 
II 
5-5 
Normal salt solution. 
IO 
12 
II 
55 
12 
14 
10 
5 
14 
l6 
10 
5 
l6 
18 
12 
6 
18 
20 
12 
6 
20 
24 
18 
24 
6 
On potassium bromide solu- 
24 
26 
H 
7 
tion. 
26 
28 
17 
8-5 
28 
3° 
18 
9 
3° 
32 
24 
12 
32 
34 
30 
15 
On normal salt solution. 
34 
36 
18 
18 
9 
36 
38 
16 
8 
38 
40 
11 
5-5 
40 
42 
II 
5-5 
On potassium bromide solu- 
42 
44 
13 
6-5 
tion. 
44 
46 
17 
8-5 
46 
48 
18 
24 
12 
48 
50 
30 
15 
On normal salt solution. 
So 
52 
24 
12 
52 
54 
13 
6-5 
54 
56 
9 
45 
56 
58 
9 
4-5 
58 
4.00 
10 
5 
4.00 
02 
10 
5 
On potassium bromide solu- 
02 
04 
12 
6 
tion. 
04 
06 
15 
7-5 
06 
08 
18 
9 
08 
10 
23 
n-5 
10 
12 
29 
i4 5 
On normal salt solution. 
12 
14 
16 
8 
14 
16 
14 
7 
16 
18 
10 
5 
18 
20 
9 
4-5 
20 
22 
8 
4 
22 
24 
9 
4-5 
[great oedema. 
24 
26 
19 
10 
5 
Observations discontinued ; 
ACTION OF SALTS ON THE BLOODVESSELS. 
15 
Experiment XLVIII. has been selected from three 
experiments made with ammonium salts on the 
bloodvessels, because it represents in a typical man- 
ner what took place in all, namely, great dilatation 
followed by slight contraction ; the latter, though 16 
BEYER 
rarely observed as coming on during the time the 
ammonium salt solution is in the bloodvessels, must 
nevertheless be looked upon as an effect of ammo- 
nium salts, for the vessels ultimately recover their 
normal calibre under the influence of normal salt 
solution. Hence, the salts of ammonium resemble 
those of sodium in their effects on the bloodvessels. 
Experiment XLVIII. — March 31, 1886. Terrapin 
1210 grms. Inflow canulas in right and left arterial 
trunks. Outflow canula in sinus. Arterial pressure 
12 c.m. Venous pressure o. Circulating fluids: Nor- 
mal salt solution — chloride and bromide of ammonium 
in normal salt solution, each in the proportion of 1 : 1000. 
Time 
P. M. 
Temp. 
Total 
Outflow 
from 
to 
Cent. 
outflow. 
per min. 
2-55 
2-57 
l6° 
30 
15 
Normal salt solution. 
57 
59 
3° 
15 
59 
3.01 
31 
15-5 
3°i 
°3 
30 
15 
03 
05 
30 
15 
05 
07 
29 
145 
07 
°9 
16 
29 
i4-5 
On ammonium chloride solu- 
09 
11 
29 
14-5 
tion. 
11 
13 
37 
18.5 
13 
i5 
42 
21 
15 
17 
48 
24 
On normal salt solution. 
17 
19 
38 
19 
*9 
21 
18 
9 
21 
23 
20 
10 
23 
25 
25 
12.5 
25 
27 
16 
30 
15 
27 
29 
30 
15 
29 
3i 
32 
16 
On ammonium chloride solu- 
31 
33 
40 
20 
tion. 
33 
35 
59 
29 5 
35 
37 
74 
37 
On normal salt solution. 
37 
39 
61 
30.5 
39 
4i 
45 
22.5 
4i 
43 
42 
21 
43 
45 
4i 
20.5 
45 
47 
42 
21 
47 
49 
4i 
20.5 
On ammonium bromide. ACTION OF SALTS ON THE BLOODVESSELS. 
17 
Time 
P. M. 
Temp. 
Total 
Outflow 
from 
to 
Cent 
outflow 
per min. 
49 
51 
46 
23 
51 
53 
66 
33 
S3 
55 
78 
39 
On normal salt solution. 
55 
57 
60 
30 
57 
59 
55 
27-5 
59 
4.01 
50 
25 
4.01 
03 
38 
19 
03 
OS 
28 
14 
OS 
07 
36 
18 
07 
09 
35 
17-5 
On ammonium bromide. 
09 
11 
45 
22.5 
11 
13 
90 
45 
On normal salt solution. 
13 
15 
73 
37-5 
15 
17 
58 
29 
17 
19 
52 
26 
19 
21 
48 
24 
21 
23 
4i 
20.5 
[no oedema. 
23 
25 
4i 
20.5 
Observations discontinued: 
The amount of chloride and bromide of ammo- 
nium used in this experiment was larger than that 
used in the remainder of them. The effect, how- 
ever remained the same. The dilatation produced 
by ammonium salts, in large or small doses, is prompt 
and extensive. 
With the exception of Ringer’s experiments, re- 
ferred to above, very little indeed is found in litera- 
ture on the physiological characteristics of calcium 
salts. The same may be said of the salts of sodium 
so far as their effect on the circulatory apparatus is 
concerned. 
Potassium salts have been found to cause death by 
heart-paralysis, being both nerve and muscle poisons. 
The primary effect of the potassium salts on the cir- 
culation is said to be a transient decrease in blood- 
pressure, together with a slowing of the pulse-rate, 
but a rise in pressure and an increase in the rate 
quickly follow. The rate, however, again begins to 
go down while the pressure may still be on the rise. 18 
BEYER, 
Finally, large doses have been found to cause imme- 
diate and permanent lowering of blood-pressure, as 
well as slowing of the pulse-rate, which may culmi- 
nate in diastolic arrest. 
Drs. Lauder Brunton and Cash, in their experi- 
ments with potassium salts on the bloodvessels, 
found that potassium chloride gave rise to great con- 
traction, which exceeded even that produced by cal- 
cium and strontium salts. This certainly is not the 
direct action of these salts in the case of the terrapin. 
The salts of potassium, as is well known, are fre- 
quently employed by practitioners in combination 
with digitalis for the diuretic effects which they pro- 
duce. If, now, they did produce dilatation of the 
renal vessels in man as they do in the terrapin, 
which, I think, is more than probable from the 
foregoing experiments, their combination with car- 
diac tonics like, for instance, digitalis, would cer- 
tainly go far to explain their salutary diuretic effects 
which they are known to produce in dropsies of all 
kinds. 
According to Funke and Deahne, the salts of am- 
monium cause temporary contraction of the blood- 
vessels owing to their stimulating influence upon the 
vasomotor centres in both brain and spinal cord; 
the same authors also state that these salts possess a 
stimulating influence on the inhibitory centre in the 
brain, thereby causing slowing in the pulse-rate, in 
larger doses, diastolic cardiac arrest. 
In conclusion, we offer the following explanations 
for the phenomena observed in the foregoing experi- 
ments : 
i. Calcium salts cause the vessels to contract by 
virtue of their stimulating influence on the vasomotor 
ganglia. ACTION OF SALTS ON THE BLOODVESSELS. 
19 
2. Sodium and ammonium salts excite, first, the 
ganglia of the vasodilators; next, those of the vaso- 
motors; hence producing at first dilatation, and 
afterward contraction of the vessels. 
3. Potassium salts stimulate the ganglia of the 
vasodilators only, and consequently produce dilata- 
tion ; if, however, as was shown in two observations, 
the dilatation which they produce is followed by 
contraction, this contraction is so extremely slight 
that it may practically be neglected; therefore, any 
stimulating influence on the vasomotor ganglia which 
they might possess is insignificant when compared 
with that which they exert over the vasodilators. THE MEDICAL NEWS. 
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