746 HEXRY G. BARBOUR 



C.C. OXYGEX CONSUMPTION PER MINUTE 



Poisoned Return 



Animal Normal 1st period 2d period to normal Normal 



rabbit / 22.7. .../ 15.8-17.4 . . 23.8 



rabbit 20.7 5.0-9.4 



cat 35.4 40.2 21.2-19.8-24.8 30.9 



cat 30.9 60.4 24.0-28.9 44.8 



cat 28.8 46.4 16.6-20.0 30.5-30.8 33.7 



dog 39.7 80-52 26.1 00.6-53.2 39.3 



dog 35.7 65-46 21.7 36.6-52.0 42.1 



The "second period" presents the picture which is so characteristic 

 of the toxic action of the cyanids. Now Geppert showed that this marked 

 fall in the oxygen intake took place at a period when the ventilation was 

 not reduced, but was enormously increased, i. e., the asphyxial demand 

 for oxygen was present. Furthermore, the oxygen consumption was low 

 not only during rest but during all stages of muscular restlessness up to 

 actual spasms. During the convulsions, which often occurred, dogs occa- 

 sionally (not always) exhibited an abnormally high oxygen consumption. 

 In other species the oxygen intake was always subnormal even during the 

 spasms. Similarly during the tetanizing respectively of normal and of 

 poisoned animals Geppert found the oxygen consumption lower by two- 

 thirds to four-fifths in the cyanid animals than in the controls. 



The oxygen consumption was thus found reduced under circumstances 

 in which an opposite effect would logically be expected. 



The following are Geppert's figures for the carbon dioxid content of 

 arterial and of venous blood : 



C.C.COo IX 100 C.C. BLOOD 



Normal Poisoned 



No. Arterial Venous Arterial Venous 



(Dog, art. at 1st spasm, 

 venous during paraly- 

 sis 

 35 43.7 .... 18.0 .... Dog, moderate spasm 



f Rabbit, 6 rain, after in- 

 "[ jection 



33 50.3 17.7 Rabbit, after spasm 



Rabbit, ven. at end of 



37 41.4 23.9 30.2 -j spasm, arterial during 



paralysis 



36 40.3 23.6 



