Scientific Proceedings. 



(ii9) 55 



distinctly convulsive effects, even without the addition of strychnin. 

 From an analysis of their observations to the present time, the 

 authors feel justified in making the following statements : The 

 toxic effect of bile from normal rabbits shows an individual vari- 

 ation ; the effect of the bile from some animals is predominantly 

 coma, and from others tetanus. Heating the bile seems to reduce 

 the stupefying, paralyzing effect, and to favor the appearance of 

 the tetanic element. In the bile of nephrectomized rabbits the 

 tetanic element was distinctly more pronounced than in the bile of 

 normal rabbits. 



The bearing which these observations might have upon the 

 understanding of the complex symptoms of cholemia and uremia 

 was not discussed. 



23 (69). " A preliminary communication on the pharmacology 

 of thorium": E. D. BROWN and TORALD SOLLMANN. 

 (Presented by WILLIAM J. GlES.) 



Thorium nitrate precipitates proteins and is intensely astringent. 1 

 Its intravenous injection is promptly fatal by embolism. Applied 

 subcutaneously, it causes local necrosis. Administered by the 

 stomach, even large doses have no appreciable effect. 



Solutions in sodium citrate were found to be nonprecipitant and 

 nonastringent. As much as 1 gm. of thorium nitrate, per kilo- 

 gram of dog, injected subcutaneously and intravenously in citrate 

 solution, had little acute action ; however, the animals appeared 

 depressed and became emaciated. The postmortem examination, 

 made after several weeks, showed extensive and widespread calci- 

 fication of tissues. Thorium could not be demonstrated in the 

 calcified areas. 



A method for the quantitative estimation of thorium was elabor- 

 ated ; this gave satisfactory results with urine, to which known 

 quantities were added. But in actual experiments on animals it 

 was found inaccurate, a large proportion of the injected thorium 

 escaping detection. However, it was found that on intravenous or 

 subcutaneous injection, the thorium appeared in the urine, and not 

 in the feces. When administered by mouth, it appeared in the 

 feces, but not in the urine. The conclusion appears justified that 

 absorbed thorium is excreted by the kidneys, but that the metal is 

 neither absorbed nor excreted through the intestine. 



