Julius Loman

Human autonomic pharmacology

A study of the effect of acetyl-beta-methylcholine chloride (mecholyl) on the gall bladder is presented. It has been demonstrated that mecholyl has practically no effect upon the size and shape of the gall bladder, but that this drug in the majority of cases very definitely inhibits the emptying of the gall bladder following the ingestion of a fat meal.

Plethora of the Intracranial Venous Circulation in a Case of Polycythemia

IN POLYCYTHEMIA vera, symptoms referable to the head greatly outrank in incidence those relating to any other bodily system.1 Actual cerebral vascular lesions are, furthermore, not infrequent. Thes...

AMPHETAMINE SULFATE IN TREATMENT OF SPASMODIC TORTICOLLIS

to belong in the group of disorders of the basal ganglia, although its more exact focal pathology and pathologic physiology are obscure. It frequently occurs as an isolated involvement of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, but other muscle groups may manifest a similar disability, for example, the spinal groups of muscles and the muscle groups of the foot. Spasmodic torticollis, once well established, occurs at frequent intervals or may be practically constant, and finally contracture of the muscle may result so that the head is permanently fixed in an abnormal position. Pain and discomfort frequently accompany the spasms of the muscle groups. The therapy of spasmodic torticollis has been on the whole unsatisfactory. Scopolamine and other sedative drugs have been used, without definite effect. Benefit in some cases has been reported from section of the spinal accessory and the upper cervical nerves. Any medication which offers relief of the distressing spasm should be welcome. Since amphetamine sulfate decreases rigidity in Parkinsons syndrome,1 it occurred to us that the drug might have a beneficial effect on spasmodic torticollis. We have had the opportunity of observing the effect of amphetamine sulfate in 2 unusual cases of spasmodic torticollis, 1 of which we have had under observation for fourteen months and the other for five months.