The Portland daily press., 1893-10-10
Caroline.
Extract of Heart Muscle Used for Gases OF
Disease of that Organ.

Extract of Heart Muscle Used for Cases of
Disease of that Organ.
The studies of M. Brown-Sequard have
shown the benefit to be derived IN
therapeutics from the use OF the extracts
of certain organs, and the success OBJ
tanned from hypodermic injections OF the
juice of the thyroid gland and supra
renal capsules in the treatment of myx-
oedema and Addison's disease have led.
Mr.. Hammond, of New York, to expert
lnent with an extract of ! cardiac tissue,
which he calls caroline, in treating dis
eases of the heart, says the European edl-
ton of the New York Herald.
The preparation of cardine according
to Mr.. Hammond's porcess,is quite COM
pllcated one-1, 900 grammes OF fresh heart
muscle take from cattle is carefully
washed in a saturated solution OF bor1c
acid, and then cut up into small nag
m ents and placed in the following MIX
ture: -Glycerne, 1,200 grammes; saturat-
ed solution of borlc acid, at Io degrees,
The whole preparation should then be
kept in a recipient of porcelain or glass
carefully closed. Each day during
space of time that varies from eight
months to year the preparation should
be stirred and the cardiac substance sub
iected to pressure. This long period is
indispensable, since fresh extract OF heart
muscle has no special properties.
When this period of maceration is past
the LIQUID should be8poured on a stone
filter, and when it has dripped through
it. is found to be Hpmld, transparent, OF
pale straw color free of all germs and
suitable for indefinite preservation.
When injected hypodermically, IN doses
of four grammes, caroline gives rise TO the
following effects: At the end of ten
minutes the pulse has become fuller,
stronger and in many cases quicker; ar
terial tension has increase, and conse-
quently urinary secretion lsSfreeef;s ana
the red blood globules are more numer7
Gus, as can be demonstrated by micro
scopical examination.
MIR. Hammond therefore rightly con.
cludes that caroline is very powerful
heart tonic and also an energetic dlure-
tic: finally that it has marked influence
on the composition of the blood, since 1t
causes the number of the red globules
to increase.
This was quite sufficient to show that
caroline would probably be efficacious
in cases of fatty degeneration of the
heart only contracted forty times min
ute, whose pulse was very weak and
whose lower extremities were infiltrated,
the heart beats rose to "a and TO- after,
the first two injections of cardine, and
at the same time they increased IN
strength, the quantity of urine was more
considerable and the oedema disappeared.
After one months treatment the patient
was also delivered from the dyspeptic
symptoms to which he had been vic
tim.
Another patient, who had irregular
heart contradictions depending on excessive
smoking, found his condition relieved af-
ter four days treatment by injections OF
caroline. fsses2a
Caroline can also be recommended in
cases of nervous prostration connected
with anaemia or chlorsis The effect of
the treatment in patients of this class is
SO quick and evident that every one
about the patient is astonished. Improve
ment can be obtained in eight or ten
days light cases, or, IN longer period,
of four or five weeks.
1t is to be hoped that other researches
will soon confirm these. cases of success
published by Mr.. Hammond; however
[ hardly think that the treatment OF
heart complaints by cardine will enter
into general practice on account of the
extraordinary length Of time required for
its preparation. @
elements to be considered pain and
the effusion. The pain can usually be
relieed by wet or dry cups, leeches,
infections Of morphine or medicine; but
when at later period Of the complaint
the effusion is making rapid progress.
what is the best line of Atreatment of
during the course of the complaint have
had three, four or five blisters applied,
who have been exposed to; complications
such assscystitis, erysipelas or eruptions
of hollis. but who havesnot derived the
| slightest benefit from the treatment
Blisters are, therefore, ctically with
out any effect on efnsion in the ipleural
cavity, and the other usual r 4! ped
puroatiyes, sdiuretics and sudorIfcs- are
about equally eficacious. Thor ascentesis
that is to say, drawing off the liquid
| that has collected In the pleural cavity
by means of a hollow needle els without
contest the best operation to cure and
shorten the length of the complaint, or
at any; rate to, prevent the heart being
of axphyxia; but this is an operation
that requires a great dealSofS care, and
that depends on indictions and counter
indications that must he thoroughly we'll
known. 49,
In view of the advantages derived from
immObll1ty ID acute disorders OF the
peritoneam, M. Vollaud, of Davos, has
applied the same principle in four sue
cessive cases of pleuritic effusion, and
has kept his patients in bed for long
time without their making any move
ments They were fed with spoon,
| were not allowed to sit up on any pre-
text, and he even refrained from using
percussion and ausculation during the
| treatment.
| Under the influence of absolute rest only
the fever disappeared in all these cases.
The maximum delay was eight days in
case of acute pleuritic effusion of
| tuberculosis Origin. At the end of the
week, during which time the patient still
remained absolutely quiet only a little
LIQUID was left in the pleural cavity, and
this disappeared in a few days after.
| Then only were the patients allowed to
| leave their bed.
A bsolute immobility as recommended
| by NJ Vollaud must be very difficult and
| disagreeable to carry out, but since on
| the one hand it is harmless, and on the
other has already given good results, it
| can safely be recommended, and the
| puncture of the chest be reserved for
any menace of .asDhyxia