THE EFFECT OF MORPHINE UPON THE ALKALI RESERVE OF THE BLOOD OF MAN AND CERTAIN ANIMALS

¹ Research Department, National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives, Denver, Colorado

Morphine administered subcutaneously in the form of sulphate to rabbits, dogs and sheep distinctly increased the alkali reserve of the blood plasma of these animals. Likewise there was a slight but distinct effect upon the pH of the blood plasma. Excitement in dogs and rabbits decreases the alkali reserve of the blood plasma.

The natural alkali reserve of the plasma of the lamb is distinctly lower than that of sheep, but morphine increases it in both animals. Repeated short interval injections of morphine do not tend to have a greater effect than a single injection. The alkali reserve increase as a result of the injection of morphine is greater in the rabbit than in either dogs or sheep (whether excitement plays a part in this greater effect was not determined). In man given a therapeutic or slightly toxic dose, morphine did not have a marked effect when administered subcutaneously (in dose from to grain) upon the pH or the alkali reserve of the blood plasma.