In an attempt to relate the biologic structure of schizophrenic psychoses to sluggishness or limited reactivity of the cerebral vasomotor system, it was believed quite possible to utilize routine lumbar punctures to study the comparative effect of autonomic drugs on the cerebrospinal fluid pressure. Histamine was the first autonomic drug thus employed because of its well known vasodilator action in human and in animal subjects.
PROCEDURE
Studies of the spinal fluid pressure were made on 63 patients with schizophrenia and 68 patients with other types of psychoses. The groups were comparable as to age and duration of hospitalization. Lumbar pressures were measured before and after withdrawal of 10 cc. of spinal fluid with the patient in the lateral recumbent position. Pressures were then recorded ten minutes after subcutaneous injection of 1 ampule of histamine phosphate (1 mg. per cubic centimeter). A third series of recordings was made after another withdrawal