Blood in Acute Bichloride Intoxication. 141 



subcutaneously. After the initial emesis the animals became 

 drowsy and during this period 15 mg. per kilogram of bichloride 

 of mercury was given by stomach tube. With four exceptions 

 no vomiting occurred from the local irritant effect of the mercury. 



Within twenty-four hours all of the animals developed a severe 

 gastro-enteritis. The stools were frequent and bloody. The 

 severity of the enteritis has varied in different animals. There is 

 no definite relation between the severity of the gastroenteritis 

 and the delayed toxic effect from the poison. The variation in 

 the toxic effect of bichloride in the different experiments permits 

 the following classification of the animals. 



Group 1. — Six animals. An intense gastroenteritis. The 

 animals are in much pain, cold, tongue bluish, unable to walk. 

 Apparently in collapse. All of the animals in this group which 

 is characterized by the early and intense gastroenteritis have died 

 within forty-eight hours following the bichloride. 



The urine in this group is reduced in amount. The lowest 

 output in twenty-four hours has been 91 c.c. With one exception, 

 the urine of these animals has been free from albumin, glucose 

 and acetone. The urine of one of the animals contained less than 

 0.5 gm. of albumin per liter (Esbach). In this group of animals 

 which apparently die from the shock associated with the intense 

 local action of the bichloride, the hydrogen-ion content of the 

 blood has not gone higher than 7.35. The reserve alkali of the 

 blood and the tension of alveolar air carbon dioxide have not 

 varied from the normal. The phthalein output has been uniformly 

 slightly reduced. 



Group 2. — Nine animals. All of the animals have developed 

 a severe gastroenteritis. During the subsidence of the enteritis 

 or several days after the symptoms of the enteritis had disappeared, 

 the animals have shown an increase in the hydrogen ion content 

 of the blood which in one animal went as high as 7.3. The 

 alkali reserve of the blood has shown a depletion. In none of the 

 animals have the determinations been below 7.9. The tension 

 of carbon dioxide has not gone below 35 mm. In this group of 

 animals the phthalein output has shown a greater reduction than 

 in Group 1. The total output has varied between 51 to 63 per 

 cent. The urine has contained as much as 1.5 gm. of albumin per 

 liter. No acetone or glucose. 



