Further Appraisal of the Adrenalin

-TUNKENSTEIN, Greenblatt, and Solomon in 1948 reported on certain physiological changes which followed electroshock treatment. Since that time, several papers have appeared which have attempted to define the physiological meaning and the prognostic value of blood-pressure curves as they are affected by intravenous neo-epinephrine and intramuscular Mecholyl (methacholine). Funkenstein and his co-workers have also suggested modification of present diagnostic categories on the basis of response to the test. They have reported that abstraction disturbances occur in statistically meaningful fashion in certain of the response groups, and they plan more study of the psychological accompaniments in various of the test groups. As a logical development proceeding from this work, Ernest Gellhorn has attempted to clarify the phenomena reported from the neurophysiological aspect, while a study by L. Alexander has reported use of the Funkenstein test as a valuable clinical guide in the choice of modes of treatment in private practice. The present study was designed to evaluate the Funkenstein test in terms of prognostic value quite apart from the use of electroshock treatment. Reports have shown that a high percentage of patients with a high basal blood pressure who respond to Mecholyl with a marked and prolonged hypotensive effect improve with electroshock treatment.'' This