A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF THE BARBITURATES, ETHER, AND BULBOCAPNINE ON MICTURITION

¹ Sub-department of Neurology, the Johns Hopkins University

1. One hundred and sixteen kymographic records of vesical filling were analyzed in relation to the changes produced by the type of anesthetic used. The records were obtained from thirty-four normal animals, five spinal animals, three decorticate cats and four others with various lesions of the sacral roots, and sympathetic chain.

2. Nembutal, given in the average dose of thirty mgm. per kilogram, depresses stretch responses and prevents a sustained vesical contraction when vesical filling is complete. Residual urine is always present in the bladder even though some emptying may occur.

3. Ether likewise depresses stretch responses and active vesical contraction, and causes the presence of residual urine. On increasing the depth of anesthesia, the resting vesical pressure rises.

4. Bulbocapnine phosphoricum (Merck) renders the animals immobile and heightens parasympathetic activity. It increases the initial resting pressure although filling occurs normally. Stretch responses are obtained and the final contraction is forceful and maintained so that no residual urine occurs.

5. The increased intravesical pressure produced by this drug is not related to the rigidity of the abdominal wall. It is noted in spinal animals and after removal of the sacral cord and sympathetic chain.

6. Bulbocapnine is the most suitable of the drugs examined for use in the study of the nervous control of micturition.