1. The effect of heroin, morphine, Dilaudid, Dicodid and Eukodol upon the human alimentary tract are described from observations involving the use of the barium meal and X-ray methods.
2. The effects of Dilaudid closely resemble those of morphine. Dilaudid produces a condition of increased tone in the pyloric and ileo-colic sphincters resulting in delayed emptying of the stomach contents into the duodenum and a delayed passage of the intestinal contents into the caecum.
3. Dicodid has a much weaker action upon the pyloric and ileo-colic sphincters than either morphine, heroin, Dilaudid or Eukodol. It causes only a negligible delay in the passage of food up to the 3 hr. stage, it being normal at the 6 hr. stage owing to a hastening of the motility rate.
4. Eukodol has an action resembling that of morphine and is described.
5. All these drugs possess well-marked analgesic properties.
6. No gross rectal symptoms were observed in any of the subjects under observation.