THE FATE OF ARSENIC IN THE BODY. 



643 



in which the output can be accurately expressed on the total 

 quantity of urine passed, rather than upon unknown fractions 

 of the daily elimination. 



It may be mentioned, however, that the quantities of urine 

 passed were abnormally low, usually being below 6 litres, and 

 that the ox showing the smaller percentages of AsoO.^ generally 

 passed a larger total quantity of urine per day. The estimate 

 of daily output of from 15 to 40 and from 20 to 50 milligrams 

 AS2O3, offered in the last column of Table 2, is only approxi- 

 mate, and derived by calculation from elimination over a few 

 timed short periods between successive micturitions. Such aa 

 estimate, however, serves to illustrate how small the elimination 

 actually is — ranging around one-tenth of a milligram per hour. 



The urine of a horse dipped at regular weekly intervals in 

 arsenite of soda equivalent to .16 per cent. AsO (laboratory 

 strength) was also subjected to examination, approximate collec- 

 tion of total urinary output being secured. The results are given 

 in Table 3. 



Table 3. 



It will be observed that the amount of arsenic eliminated 

 is always very small, ranging irom about one-tenth to one-third 

 of a milligram per 100 c.c, or only up to a maximum of 2t, milli- 

 grams in 24 hours. It is noticeable that the amount of arsenic 

 eliminated per day a week after dipping is less than that elimin- 

 ated during the first few days, but the falling-off is not as great 

 as might be expected. This might be interpreted in two ways- 

 fa) that when such small amounts reach the blood-stream 

 elimination is protracted by temporary fixation in the tissues^ 



