Fatal Action of Magnesium Salts. 95 



Carolina, equipped with a water-carriage system of sewage dis- 

 posal, new cases of pellagra were relatively few. In two mill 

 villages completely equipped with a water carriage sewer system, 

 it was impossible to find cases of pellagra which had certainly 

 originated there. Individuals suffering from pellagra contracted 

 elsewhere were not lacking in these communities. 



54 (87i) 



The fatal action of magnesium salts by absorption from the intes- 

 tines and the resuscitation by calcium. 



By J. Auer and S. J. Meltzer. 



[From the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology of the 

 Rockefeller Institute.] 



A. Under ether anesthesia, the duodenum of a cat was exposed, 

 ligated, a cannula inserted and fixed in the direction of the small 

 intestines and the abdomen closed so as to permit the rubber 

 tubing part of the cannula which was closed by a hemostatic 

 forceps to protrude. The animal was then permitted to come out 

 from the influence of ether and was wide awake. Ten c.c. of a 

 20 per cent, solution of MgCl 2 per kilo of body weight were now 

 injected through the rubber tubing into the small intestines. The 

 animal died after twenty five minutes by respiratory paralysis with- 

 out any asphyctic convulsions; the heart continued to beat a little 

 longer. 



B. Another cat in which preparation and procedure was the 

 same as in A. But when the respiration began to fail, artificial 

 respiration by the pharyngeal method of Meltzer was started and 

 through a venous cannula ten c.c. of a 2.5 per cent, solution of 

 CaCU was slowly injected. Spontaneous respiration soon ap- 

 peared and the animal was resuscitated. 



The experiments show, against the generally accepted view, 

 that magnesium salts are rapidly absorbed from the intestines. 

 They show further that the method of injecting magnesium salts 

 into the small intestines after laparotomies as recommended by 

 McCosh and practiced by some surgeons contains an element of 

 considerable danger. 



