EFFECTS OF CERTAIN DRUG AND POISONS 755 



shima, investigating the source of the lactic acid, noted that in autolysis 

 of fresh livers the disappearance of glycogen is closely paralleled by the 

 gains in lactic acid content. 



Water Metabolism. Arsenic, according to Magnus, exerts a specific 

 toxic effect upon the endothelial cells of the capillaries throughout the 

 body. To this the cholera-like diarrhea of arsenic has been ascribed. The 

 dehydration is sufficient to cause marked thirst and to account for 

 much of the hemoglobin increase. To this capillary effect Magnus also 

 attributes the edema which sodium chlorid injections are capable of pro- 

 ducing in arsenic-poisoned animals. 



Karsner and Denis described in the glomeruli of the kidneys certain 

 effects of arsenic which they associated with anuria. In their experiments 

 nitrogen retention was rather slight, but caffein diuresis was frequent. 



Body Temperature. The well-known febrile reaction frequently fol- 

 lowing arsphenamin administration has been variously explained. It is 

 not necessarily attributable to stale distilled water or to salt diuresis. 

 Luithlen and Mucha have explained it as due to a destructive action of 

 the drug upon the pathological tissues of syphilis, A new cause for some 

 cases has been found in an alkaline-soluble substance extractable from new 

 samples of so-called "pure gum" rubber tubing. (Stokes and Busman.) 



Ferments. Duncker and lodbauer found an increased catalase action 

 after small doses of arsenic, larger amounts giving negative results. This 

 does not accord with the decrease after phosphorus. It must be borne in 

 mind that catalytic activity of the blood has never been clearly shown 

 to influence directly any vital process. Lacquer and Ettinger maintain 

 that small doses of arsenic increase liver autolysis, which is retarded by 

 large amounts. 



Iron. Stockman and Grieg have shown that five to ten milligrams 

 of iron ingested per day suffice to maintain an equilibrium. The effects 

 of iron deficiency are described by Hosslin(a). Organic iron compounds, 

 whether or not the metal is readily ionizable, offer no real therapeutic 

 advantage over the inorganic forms. 



Like arsenic large doses of iron may cause renal and intestinal irrita- 

 tion with anuria and diarrhea. The carbon dioxid content of the blood 

 is reduced with toxic doses (Hans Meyer), 



Munk observed no changed in the nitrogen metabolism of dogs fed 

 0.3-0.5 gram daily. 



Mercury. The regular occurrence of nephritis and of glycosuria 

 sharply differentiates the effects of mercury (as well as of uranium, etc,) 

 from those of arsenic and phosphorus. 



Certain effects common to the last two mentioned poisons are seen 

 also after small doses of mercury, especially fat deposition and red blood 

 cell increase. Schlesinger demonstrated these results in cats, dogs, and 



