394 ANNALS NEW YORE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



The characteristic odor of a volatile selenium compound (methyl 

 selenid ?) is scented in the animal's breath almost immediately after 

 intravenous injection and about ten or fifteen minutes after subcutaneous 

 injection. In one case, where the dose was five times the lethal dose, 

 the odor was not evident. Another characteristic effect of selenium 

 poisoning is the withdrawal of free hydrochloric acid from the stomach. 



To account for the toxicity of the selenates we put forth the proposition 

 that the selenates are reduced to selenite and finally to free selenium. 

 To explain the toxic properties of sodium arsenate, Binz and Schulz 

 claim that the arsenate is reduced in the animal body to the more toxic 

 arserdte. 



The selenium compounds investigated do not precipitate proteins from 

 their solutions. 



The author gratefully acknowledges his indebtedness to Professor 

 William J. Gies for kind assistance, valuable suggestions and helpful 

 criticism. 



Biochemical Laboratory of Columbia University, 

 College of Physicians and Surgeons. 



