FIELD T-2 

 Columns 58, 59, 60, and 61 



state (Field T-2) and (2) combining it with the non-specific verb "cause" (Field T-2); (e.g. , the test 

 compound "causes rigor", "causes edema", "causes coma", etc. ). For coding these latter effects, it 

 is not difficult to see why Field T-l is coded with Symbol 7 and Field T-2 is coded with the specific 

 state or condition. 



Most of the states or conditions of Field T-2 can not only be caused by the test compound , but 

 they can be caused by other agents and factors and treated by the test compound. The symbol for any 

 state in Field T-2 can be combined with any specific action on that state (Field T-l), whether the action 

 is initiation, intensification, diminution, or abolishment. For this reason, the test compound's effect 

 is always coded by naming the state or condition in Field T-2 and indicating in Field T-l whether it 

 is caused or affected, even in cases for which it might be possible to express it by a single verb. 

 Therefore, the fact that a test compound "relieves", "prevents", or "cures" a disease, or "irritates", 

 "dehydrates", or "discolors" a test organism is always coded as the test compound's "causing relief", 

 "causing cure", "causing death", "causing irritation", etc. , obviating any troublesome exceptions 

 for coding verbs in Field T-2 ("irritates", "dehydrates", "discolors", etc. ) or to add these specific 

 verbs to Field T-l where the number of symbols available is very limited. 



The concision that would be afforded using a single term (i. e. , the verbs "kills", "relieves", 

 "cures", "irritates", etc. ) is sacrificed to the coding pattern which must be used for the majority of 

 effects ("causes rigor", "causes edema", etc. ) and which must be used for coding test compound 

 effects on a secondary compound's causing death, relief, cure, irritation, etc. 



7. Symbols 113- through 1 1 7 - ; non-lethal toxicity (general pathological states other than death) ; 

 local toxicity (symbol series 113-) vs. systemic toxicity (symbol series 114-); paralyses 

 (symbol series 115-); convulsions (symbol series 1 16-); shock (symbol series 117-) 



All of the symbols of series 113- through 117- are defined as morbid states other than death. 

 Although the use of these symbols is more frequently for coding conditions caused by the test compound 

 (the use for which these particular symbols are principally intended), they are used also to code pre- 

 existing symptoms of a major disease coded in Field E, when that symptom is specifically treated or 

 affected by the test compound. 



The 113- series of symbols consists of conditions that occur as morphologic disturbances at 

 any given site coded in Fields H and I. The 114- series of symbols are conditions that involve the 

 entire body or are too general in concept to be defined as concerning a given site, including subjective 

 sensation and symptoms which, though they may vaguely involve certain limited parts of the body, do 

 not involve morphological damage in the same distinct way as the items of the 113- series. The three 

 symbol series, 115-, 116-, and 117-, represent types of paralyses, convulsions, and shocks, respectively. 



8. Acute systemic toxicity (Symbol 1141) vs. side effects (Symbol 1142); coding of side effects 



Essentially, the difference between the definition of 1141 and that for 1142 is one of degree, 

 1141 being for systemic effects of most severe intensity. The use of Symbol 1141 is ordinarily depend- 

 ent on the author's description of the condition as being of such intensity. Symbol 1142 is also a 

 symbol for any of a large number of systemic morbid conditions (i. e. , it is used for non-specific coding 

 of systemic toxicity), but only when the condition is of a comparatively mild, less acute degree. 



Instead of Symbol 1142, there might be listed all of a large number of general and common toxic 

 symptoms caused by the test compound or caused by a disease and collectively treated by the test 

 compound, such as headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, etc. If this were the case, the CBCC 

 coding procedure would require, whenever any such symptoms occurred, a separate code line for each 

 one. Since many pathological conditions caused or treated by the test compound involve more than 

 one and frequently several of these symptoms, the number of code lines necessary to code information 

 about all these commonly occurring subjective symptoms would be prodigious, particularly in the case 

 of clinical data. The effect of a test compound on such secondary symptoms common to so many major 

 pathological states or its effect in producing the secondary symptoms is of comparatively minor signif- 

 icance and the CBCC has refrained from coding them or from providing specific symbols for them, coding 

 any or all of them collectively and non-specifically with Symbol 1142. Even the production of pain is 

 not coded; a symbol for pain, Symbol 9B8, is used only when the compound may be shown to affect the 

 sensation as an anesthetic, when the effect is measured by well-defined and measurable motor responses 



138 



