INTRODUCTION
Ephedrin is the active principle of the Chinese drug Ma Huang, and botanically, the plant is identified as Ephedra vulgaris var. helvetica Fam. Gnetaceae. It was one of the medicinal herbs tasted by Emperor Shen Nung some 5,100 years ago and is an ingredient of many famous Chinese prescriptions.1
A clinical study of the effects of ephedrin sulphate is at present being conducted by Dr. T. Grier Miller, in the Medical Wards of the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. The plan of investigation outlined by Dr. Miller included a study of the effects of the drug in diseases of the nose and throat, and at his request this phase of the work was undertaken by the Department of Otolaryngology.
SYSTEMIC EFFECTS
Experiments on dogs, cats and rabbits have shown uniformly that the effects of ephedrin on circulation, smooth muscle and secretions are analogous to those of sympathetic