This study concerns the absorptive ability of the respiratory portion of the mucous membrane of the nose as it applies to nasal medication and immunization. As there is a paucity of experimental data on this subject, my deductions will be based on clinical observations as appraised in the light of the new concepts of physiology.
It seems that prescribing physicians have little fear that an untoward effect might occur from the use of a sympathomimetic drug in the nose. The universal employment of nose drops containing ephedrine is significant. However, from time to time there appears in the literature a report of a toxic reaction from a nasal treatment with a vasoconstrictor. Greene and Greenspan1 observed restlessness in children following the use of nose drops containing ephedrine: In a group of 19 normal infants and young children who were given drop doses of a 1 per cent aqueous solution of