44 
The Philadelphia P(5Lyulinic. 
[February 3, 
NITRO GLYCERIN AND THE NITRI- . 
TIS IN ARTERIO SCLEROSIS. 
By Augustus A. Eshner, M. D., 
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF CLINICAL MEDICINE IN THE 
PHILADELPHIA POLYCLINIC. 
The results obtained from the administra- 
tion of nitro-glycerin or the nitrites in cases 
of arterio-sclerosis, of which common symp- 
toms are apparently causeless shortness of 
breath, cardiac palpitation and arhythmia, 
with accentuation of of the second sound and 
sometimes a booming first sound, tense, 
resistant and tortuous arteries, vertigo, cold- 
ness of the extremities, paresthesia?, impaired 
memory, impaired motor power, heightened 
reflexes, tremor, are sometimes quite re- 
markable. 
In these cases I ordinarly prescribe one 
drop of a centesimal solution of nitro-glycer- 
in, to be taken thrice daily, the dose to be in- 
creased one droj) every day, or every second 
or third day, according to the state of the 
vessels and the individual susceptibility. Of 
the nitrites, sodic or potassic, I administer 1894.] 
The Philadelphia Polyclinic. 
45 
two and a-half grains thrice daily. This 
dose may likewise be cautiously increased. 
I am convinced that this medication, in con- 
junction with a suitable regime, is not merely 
palliative. 
In one case in particular the improve- 
ment in the subjective symptoms following 
the taking of nitro-glycerin for a few days 
was so pronounced as to occasion the re- 
mark on the part of the patient that he 
could not have realized that so much could 
be accomplished in so short a time with so 
small a dose of medicine.