Herman I. Chinn

Effect of certain drugs on the incidence of seasickness.

Several drugs were tested, some of them for the first time, against seasickness in military personnel on transport ships on the North Atlantic ocean. All of the drugs were given three fimes a day. Of the new ones tested phenglutarmide, 2.5 mg., and cinnarazine, 7.5 mg., were significantly effective on a single trip. Somewhat less effective were atropine and orphenadrine.

Effectiveness of Various Drugs in Prevention of Airsickness

Summary No significant difference was found between Benadryl (50 mg) and Dramamine (100 mg) in protecting subjects from airsickness during a turbulent flight in an airplane. 8-Chlorotheophylline (50 mg) gave only slight protection as compared with placebos. A combination of hyoseine hydrobromide (0.65 mg) and Benadryl (50 mg) was found to be more effective than either of these drugs alone.

Determination of Ascorbic Acid in Feces. Its Excretion in Health and Disease

Conclusions 1. A method for the estimation of ascorbic acid in feces is described, and by its use, the fecal content of the normal individual on an adequate but unsupplemented diet is shown to average about 5 mg daily. 2. The plasma, urinary and fecal ascorbic acid contents have been followed in a normal individual after administration of varying amounts of 1-ascorbic acid by mouth. Large variations in the dietary intake were shown to affect the fecal excretion only slightly. 3. Patients suffering from certain gastrointestinal disorders excreted larger quantities of ascorbic acid in the feces than normal individuals.

Prevention and treatment of motion sickness by intranasal medication.

Summary Scopolamine in small doses (0.3-0.4 mg) given intranasally by spray 30 minutes prior to exposure, exerted significant protection against swing sickness. During actual flight testing, addition of a surface active agent (sodium lauryl sulfate-Duponal C) increased its effectiveness. Nasal instillation to subjects 15-20 minutes after take-off sharply reduced the incidence of vomiting from airsickness during subsequent 40-45 minutes. Oral and sublingual administration under these conditions were ineffective. Considerable variations in the drug instilled resulted when given by spray. The use of nose drops allowed more accurate medication. The significance of this mode of administration for treating motion sickness is discussed.

Changes of Vitamin A Distribution in Choline Deficiency

Summary Rats on a choline-poor diet containing liberal supplements of carotene develop fatty livers poor in vitamin A. The kidneys of these animals are extremely rich in vitamin A.

Effect of Chlorpromazine on Emesis after Radiation

Summary Chlorpromazine- (dime thylamino-1-n propyl-3) - N - (2-chloro) - phenothiazine HCl in doses of 10 mg/kg injected subcutaneously protected dogs against vomiting after 800 r x-radiation. Injections of 5 mg/kg were ineffective as were 10 mg/kg prepared from solutions allowed to stand for 2 hours at room temperature before injection. Cysteinamine (200 mg intravenously) had no or questionable protection whether given before, during, or after radiation. Increased survival time was noted with both chlorpromazine and cysteinamine. The mechanism of protection is discussed.

A Method for Isolation of Ascorbic Acid Fermenting Bacteria

The objectives of this preliminary communication are two: to describe a procedure for the isolation of ascorbic acid fermenting bacteria, from suitable material, and to describe briefly the results obtained with this procedure. This preliminary communication does not presume completeness either with respect to the types or strains of bacteria which may actually utilize ascorbic acid for energy, or with regard to the patterns of fermentation of this substance by specific strains of bacteria. Plain, nutrient broth is reinforced with ascorbic acid.∗ Fifteen to 20 mg. per 10 cc. of broth is a preferable amount, both because this is sufficient to indicate unequivocally that decomposition has taken place, and also because within these limits the initial reaction of the broth is not brought below pH 6.0, a point at which the bacteria thus far encountered grow readily. Also, a reaction slightly on the acid side is conducive to the stability of ascorbic acid. The broth, thus prepared is inoculated with stomach contents, feces, or other suitable material and incubated at 37° for 18-30 hours. Then, if ascorbic fermenting bacteria are present, a considerable growth will be noticed. From this first, or preliminary culture, a second broth culture is made, using 2 to 5 loops for the inoculum. After incubation and growth, plates are made either upon plain, or, preferably, glucose agar. (Ascorbic acid agar is not so well suited for this purpose.) Colonies are picked off, tested for purity and eventually for ascorbic acid utilization.

Changes in Acetylcholine Content of the Brain During Exposure to Cold

Summary Exposure to −12°C for 2 hours significantly increased both the free and total acetylcholine concentration of rat brain.