Classic pages in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Classic pages in

Obstetrics and Gynecology M. EDWARD

DAVIS, FRED 1. ADAIR, GERALD ROGERS, M. 5. KHARASCH, AND ROMEO R. LEGAULT

A new active principle

American

Journal

in ergot and its effects on uterine matility. A preliminary report.

of Obstetrics

and

Gynecology,

vol.

29,

pp.

155.167,

1935.

Davis and associates were the first to announce the discovery of the pharmacologically active principle causing contraction of the pregnant and puerperal uterus. Figs. 4 to 6 show that while there was no significant response to the oral administrotion of alkaloids previously isolated from ergot there was a response within about 10 minutes to the new substance. The authors incorrectly concluded that the new compound was not an alkaloid and gave no data on its isolation or chemical properties. Three other groups independently and almost simultaneously announced the discovery. They were H. W. Dudley and J. C. Moir, in London (Br. Med. J. 1: 520, 1935), M. R. Thompson, in Baltimore (J. Am. Pharm. Assoc. 24: 185, 1935), and A. Stall and E. Burckhardt in Base1 (Bull. Sci. Pharmacol. 42: 257, 1935). 297