ACUTE INTOXICATION CATS. 55 



SERIES C. 



Experiments were performed on five cats which received from 140 to 155 mg per kilo, 

 as follows: 



Cat 24. Striped. Weight, 1,300 grams. 



October 25: 10 a. m., 50 cc urine, albumin moderate amount no sugar; 10 cc caffein 

 injected eubcutanepusly at 12 noon; 12.30, irritable, cried persistently, no appetite; 

 4 p. m., no convulsions, but persistent crying. 



October 27: Cat was still alive. 

 Cat 17. Weight, 2,620 grams. 



October 12: 9.30 a. m., 65 cc urine collected; more than a trace of albumin present, 

 no reduction of Fehling's solution; 3 p. m., 20 cc 2 per cent caffein (150 mg per kilo) 

 injected subcutaneously; 3.15 p. m., irritable and restless. 



October 13: 9 a. m., about 15 cc urine collected, reduction of Fehling's solution 

 marked; osazone test also positive. 

 Cat 23. Black and white. Weight, 1,645 grams. 



October 25: 10 a. m., 140 cc urine collected (since October 23), small amount of 

 albumin present, no sugar. 



October 27: 9 a.m., no albumin; no sugar in urine; 11.50a.m., 12. 5 cc caffein injected 

 subcutaneously (0.15 gram per kilo); 1p.m., convulsions and death. 

 Cat 7. Striped kitten. Weight, 1,285 grams. 



October 11: Urine collected, no albumin, no sugar; 9.50 a. m., 10 cc 2 per cent caf- 

 fein injected subcutaneously in the back; 10.10, violent convulsions lasting about 30 

 seconds; 10.20, convulsions of shorter duration; 10.30 convulsions; 10.35, convulsions 

 lasting a few seconds; urine passed about 10.20, contained a moderate amount of albu- 

 min, but there was no reduction of Fehling's solution; 10.45, profuse salivation and 

 paralysis; died about 10.50. 

 Cat S9. Yellow. Weight, 2,285 grams. 



April 13: 2.40 p. m., 16 cc 2 per cent caffein (0.14 gram per kilo) injected subcu- 

 taneously in the oack; 3.45 p. m., cat died. 



Of the five experiments of this series three died after doses of 140, 150, and 155 mg 

 per kilo. The other two showed symptoms of toxicity, but survived a dose of 150 mg 

 per kilo which indicated that the minimum fatal dose was probably reached. To test 

 this supposition smaller doses were administered, as shown in the following experi- 

 ments. 



SERIES D. 



Ten cats were used for this series of experiments, and the doses administered varied 

 between 103 and 139 mg per kilo. The results shown in the appended table (p. ) in- 

 dicate that about 120 to 140 mg of caffein per kilo may induce mild symptoms in some 

 cases. The conclusion may be safely drawn therefore that 150 mg per kilo is approxi- 

 mately the minimum fatal dose for the cat when the drug is given subcutaneously. 

 That smaller doses are, however, by no means to be regarded as always safe is shown in 

 the following experiments. 



SERIES E. 



Cat 4$ . Weight, 8,225 grams . 



September 14: 10.20 a. m., 20 cc 2 per cent caffein (0.124 gram per kilo) injected into 

 the back; 11 a. m., tetanus and death. Autopsy: Lungs congested; liver congested 

 and showed hemorrhagic spots in capsules and fatty degeneration; kidneys slightly 

 congested; other organs normal. 

 Cat 48. Black female. Weight, 3,050 grams. 



September 14: 18 cc 2 per cent caffein (0.118 gram per kilo) injected subcutaneously 

 in the back; 10.30 a. m., violent convulsions and death. Autopsy: Lungs congested in 

 spots showing numerous petechia; liver congested; spleen congested; other organs 

 normal. 



The diminished resistance to caffein of cats Nos. 43 and 48 might be due to the 

 pathologic changes found on autopsy, for evidence is not wanting that the toxicity 



a Cat probably old; had been in the laboratory for several weeks before the experiment. Gained in 

 weight 175 grams. 



