Multiple-Balloon Kymographic Recording of the Comparative Action of Demerol, Morphine and Placebos on the Motility of the Upper Small Intestine in Man

NUMEROUS claims have been made that Demerol, in addition to its analgesic properties, has a spasmolytic or relaxing action on the motility of the intestinal tract. Eisleb and Schaumann,1 who in 1939 synthesized Demerol, and Duguid and Heathcote2 were among the first to report that this drug exerted an antispasmodic effect on smooth muscle of the intestine in animals. In 1942 Batterman,3 using the balloon intubation method, observed an antispasmodic action of the drug on the gastrointestinal tract in man. In a later publication he claimed that with 50 to 100 mg. of Demerol administered intramuscularly an antispasmodic action was . . .