SUBSTANCES RESEMBLING EPHEDRINE IN EXPERIMENTAL AND IN CLINICAL SINUSITIS: RESEARCH REPORT

After our report in 1935 1 of the reparative reactions produced in acute experimental sinusitis in the cat by certain substances resembling ephedrine, Dr. K. K. Chen requested us to report on four of these drugs, especially as to their shrinking powers and their reparative effects in chronic inflammation of the sinuses. SUMMARY OF EXPERIMENTS In a considerable series of private patients the effects of these substances on the inferior turbinate were tested by swabbing on a 1 per cent solution, and in a smaller series the solution was dropped into the nose with the head reversed, with the following results: Tetrandrine methiodide in a 1 per cent and in a 0.5 per cent solution produced a pinkish precipitate at room temperature after twenty-four hours; hence it was used only a few times. Shrinkage was rather marked, but some complaint was made of a bitter taste and slight burning.