EFFECTS IN THE WHOLE ANIMAL 519 



graphic developer, either accidentally or with suicidal intent. In some 

 instances the effects of p-benzohydroquinone may be modified by catechol 

 present, but in any case one is dealing with the effects of hydroquinones. 

 The earliest report was by Remond and Colombies (1927) on a salesman 

 who had taken 12 g hydroquinone. He first experienced a buzzing in the 

 ears, constriction in the throat, and respiratory difficulty, and was soon 

 unable to make voluntary movements. He was in a state of marked prostra- 

 tion, with slowly developing cyanosis, the respiration being labored and 

 rapid. The pulse was rapid but regular, and the blood pressure and reflexes 

 were normal. The blood picture was not abnormal except for hypoglycemia 

 and the urine was black. He began to recover and by the fourth day the 

 urine was of normal color. It is interesting that central stimulation, so 

 notable in most laboratory animals, was not observed, and that there was 

 a lack of hepatic, renal, or hematological toxicity. 



Halbron et al. (1931) reported the case of a Negress who took 5 g of 

 .p-benzohydroquinone and 4.5 g of catechol. During the first day she lost 

 consciousness and had convulsions, but by the second day consciousness 

 returned. The urine was black but there was no albumin or methemoglobin. 

 After the fourth day there was icterus, accompanied by a fall in the erythro- 

 cyte count. She died on the twelfth day and autopsy showed only hemor- 

 rhagic petechiae in the gastrointestinal tract, with hemorrhagic infiltra- 

 tion of the liver and biliary pigmentation of the parenchymal cells. Here 

 it would seem that the primary toxic actions were exerted initially on 

 the central nervous system and later on the blood and liver. Busatto 

 (1939) reported a female who took 6 g 2>benzohydroquinone and 2 g 

 p-methylaminophenol sulfate. During the following 4 days there was hy- 

 potension, a weak pulse, cyanosis, and some icterus. The icterus then in- 

 creased markedly and h^^perthermia developed. She died on the sixth day 

 and autopsy showed biliary pigmentation, pulmonary edema, broncho- 

 pneumonia, a cloudy swelling of the kidney, fatty degeneration of the liver, 

 and acute myocarditis. Quite possibly all of these were not due to the sub- 

 stances ingested. Again there was no mention of central stimulation. Zeld- 

 man and Deutl (1945) discussed two cases in which approximately 15 g 

 of developer had been taken, with the primary result a hemolytic anemia 

 with jaundice, the toxic effects being directed here on the blood and liver. 

 Except for the relative lack of central effects, these poisonings are reason- 

 ably in accord with those reported in animals. Carlson and Brewer (1953) 

 stated that the ingestion of 300-500 mg jj-benzohydroquinone daily for 

 3-5 months by 10 human subjects produced no changes in the blood or 

 urine, indicating that this substance is not very toxic and that its effects 

 are not cumulative. 



