SENSE OF SMELL ALTERATIONS BY COCAINE AND TETRACAINE.

Abstract

THE EFFECT of cocaine on the sense of smell in man was studied by Zwaardemaker. 6 He blew a powder of amylum triticin containing 10% and 20% murias cocaini (cocaine chloride) into the upper part of the nasal cavity in a few test persons, and from the experiments Zwaardemaker concluded that (1) cocaine in sufficient amount gives a reversible anosmia; (2) the anosmia is preceded by a hyperosmia; (3) the anosmia is the same for several smell qualities. It has not been possible to find experiences confirming Zwaardemaker's statements. With a special technique (Zilstorff-Pedersen 4 ) we have examined the influence of acetylcholine-like substances, menthol and strychnine, on olfactory receptors in man. 3 Acetylcholine hydrochloride and acetyl-beta-methylcholine hydrochloride 0.1μgm/ml-10μgm/ml) decreased the smell threshold on the tested side by 21%-50% as did menthol (4μgm/ml). (Fig 1). Strychnine nitrate (1-10 mg/ml) decreased the threshold in all experiments, but after an initial increase in threshold