TOXICOLOGY 289 
SODIUM CHLORIDE (COMMON SALT) 
Lethal dose. 2% drams. 
2% drams in solution.. 
Toxic dose. Same as lethal. 
Non-toxic dose. 1% to 1% drams. 
Experiments. (1) February 2, 10 a.m. Gave fowl 2% drams 
of sodium chloride in solution (40 ¢.c. of 25 per cent solution). 11 
4.M. Fowl is dull. 12 m. Same. 2 p.m. Same. Droopy. 
Sleepy. 4.30 P.M. Fowl is sitting. Sleepy. February 3, 9 a. M. 
Fowl found dead. Autopsy notes. Considerable food in crop and 
gizzard. Crop, proventriculus and gizzard are normal. Small in- 
testine normal. Rectum slightly inflamed. Liver darkened. Kid- 
ney congested. Heart is systole. 
(2) June 25,10 a.m. Gave fowl 2% drams of sodium chloride. 
June 26, 9 a.m. Fowl droopy. 1 p.m. Paralyzed. 4 P.M. 
Paralyzed. Shows condition known as wry neck. June 27, 9 a. M. 
Paralyzed. Lying on side. Wry neck. 11a.m. Died. Autopsy 
notes. Orop gorged with food. Mucosa of crop white, cooked ap- 
pearance, thickened. Severe catarrh of proventriculus, tenacious 
mucous exudate. Horny membrane of gizzard easily removed. 
Duodenum shows slight congestion. Catarrh of duodenum. Liver 
darkened. 
(8) July 8, 2 p.m. Gave fowl 1% drams of sodium chloride. 
Result. No effect was apparent. 
(4) February 28,10 a.m. Gave fowl 1% drams of sodium chlor- 
ide. 10.30 4.m. Fowl shows a moderate thirst. Result. No ef- 
fect was apparent. 
Suffran observes that fatal poisoning is induced in the hen by a 
dose of 4 grams of common salt per kilo of body weight, while the 
pigeon succumbs to 5 grams per bird. 
The clinical picture of intoxication by salt gives the impression 
that it acts as a poison of the muscles. The gradual weakening of 
the contractile power induces progressive difficulty in walking and 
at last falling down. It is not a true paralysis for sensation and 
movement continue until death. Pricking, and the point of a 
thermo cautery produce response by contraction. The weakening 
of the muscles of respiration causes a progressive asphyxia which 
leads to death. 
The toxic action of salt is exercised also in a certain measure on 
