EFFECTS OBSERVED IN THE WHOLE ANIMAL 713 



valent arsenicals undoubtedly exert toxic effects after being reduced to 

 the corresponding arsenoxides, but at least in some cases appear to produce 

 unique and characteristic damage to certain tissues. It will not be necessary 

 to treat arsenical poisoning in detail because adequate accounts are avail- 

 able in the toxicology texts and in Buchanan's "Toxicity of Arsenic Com- 

 pounds" (1962). 



Toxicology of Arsenite 



Acute 'poisoning by arsenite presents somewhat different patterns in 

 various species, but the most characteristic picture includes the following: 

 (1) vasodilatation and hyperemia, especially splanchnic, leading to a fall 

 in the blood pressure and possibly shock (Dogiel, 1881; Kionka, 1911; 

 Holzbach, 1912; Tinno et «/., 1948; Hanna and McHugo, 1960); (2) escape 

 of plasma from the capillaries leading to edema (see page 727) (Magnus, 

 1899); (3) generalized gastrointestinal distress with pain, vomiting, and 

 diarrhea (Araki, 1893; Pistorius, 1883), so that it is sometimes difficult to 

 distinguish arsenic poisoning and duodenal ulcer without roentgenography 

 (Adelson et al., 1961); (4) reduction of urine volume to final anuria, the urine 

 being albuminous and bloody, with evidence of glomerular and tubular 

 damage (see page 705); (5) depression and eventual paralysis of respiration, 

 this often being the cause of death (Lesser, 1878 c); (6) loss of voluntary 

 movement and paralysis of central origin (Ringer and Murrell, 1878); 

 and (7) hypothermia, which is often marked, the body temperature falling 

 5-10° (Norris and Elliott, 1945). A number of other changes, referable 

 mainly to disturbances in the autonomic nervous system and the circulation, 

 also occur. The cardiac effects have been discussed in detail (page 710). 

 In the terminal stages, reflex activity is very depressed or absent, the blood 

 pressure is at shock levels, and the respiration is markedly reduced; con- 

 vulsions may occur but are probably anoxic in origin. 



Chronic poisoning by arsenite may exhibit the above effects in modified 

 form and, in addition, the following have been observed: (1) anhydremia 

 due to excessive losses of fluid from the blood into the tissues and the 

 gastrointestinal tract, associated with electrolyte imbalance; (2) inflam- 

 mation of the eyes and respiratory tract, as in acute coryza; (3) dermatoses 

 of various types, including hyperpigmentation, hyperkeratosis, desqua- 

 mation, and loss of hair; (4) hematopoietic depression with mitotically 

 abnormal erythroblasts, fall in leucocyte count, and occasionally aplastic 

 anemia; (5) anorexia and loss of weight; (6) varying degrees of liver damage 

 with jaundice, portal cirrhosis, and ascites; and (7) sensory disturbances 

 and peripheral neuritis. It is very difficult, especially in chronic poisoning, 

 to separate the direct actions of arsenite from a variety of secondary 

 effects, but there is no doubt that the over-all pattern of poisoning repre- 

 sents the complex result of many interrelating processes. 



