SOME EXPERIMENTS ON THE FATE OF ARSENIC 

 IN THE ANIMAL BODY. 



By Henry Hamilton Green, D.Sc, and Cornelis 

 Derksen Dijkman, M.A.* 



{Abbreviated Preliminary Paper.) 



{Read, July ii, 1918.) 



The data recorded in this paper represent the results of a 

 number of experiments carried out to extend our knowledge of 

 the fate of arsenic in the animal body. Apart from the purely 

 scientific interest of such data, they have a practical value in 

 such a country as South Africa, where arsenical preparations are 

 so commonly used for dipping purposes and for the treatment 

 of stock.f 



The experimental work was for the most part carried out 

 on animals discharged from other experiments, and not sufficiently 

 valuable to put on to the market again. 



Methods of Analysis. 



Arsenic determinations were carried out by the microtitration 

 method elsewhere described by one of us, J a process which 

 allows of fairly accurate handling of the quantities of arsenic 

 dealt with in general physiological work. 



Absorption of Arsenic through the Skin of Dipped 



Stock. 



In general the healthy skin absorbs small amounts of salts 

 offered to it in solution, and in the dipping O'f stock in arsenical 

 baths a small amount of arsenic finds its way into the blood- 

 stream, and is subsequently eliminated, chiefly in the urine. The 

 absorption from abraded or injured surfaces is much greater. 



The only previous work, of which we are aware, dealing 

 with elimination of arsenic in the urine after dipping or spraying, 



* Honorary Research Worker, University Long Vacation, 1917-1918. 



t Compare: "The Fate of Ingested and Injected Arsenic in Sheep, 

 with Special Reference to Treatment of Hcemonchosis." H. H. Green. 

 Fifth Annual Report of the Director of Veterinary Research, Department 

 of Agriculture, Union South Africa. 



It may be noted that in the year 1917-1918 over seven million doses of 

 " Wire-worm Remedy" were issued by the Division, and that it is esti- 

 mated that the demand for 1918-1919 will rise to ten million doses. 



t H. H. Green: "The Micro-Titration of Arsenic." Fifth Annual 

 Report of the Director of Veterinary Research, Department of Agriculture, 

 Union of South Africa. 



