495 
1907-8.] On the Effects on Metabolism of Chloroform. 
appearance of acetone and diacetic acid in the urine shown by various 
investigators is probably a mere expression of this disturbed metabolism, 
whereby the /3 oxy butyric acid set free does not undergo its normal kata- 
bolism, but is converted into acetone. It is probably secondary to the 
hepatic change, and is an accompaniment, not the cause, of the death of the 
animal. 
A study of the effects of hypodermic administration of the drug throws 
some light upomits mode of action. With a dose in two portions of 5 c.c. 
0 
9 
8 
7 
6 
5 
4 
3 
2 
1 
0 
9 
8 
7 
6 
5 
4 
3 
2 
1 
there was no definite change in the excretion of nitrogen ; but in Experi- 
ment IX. there was a sharp fall in the urea nitrogen, with a corresponding 
rise in the amino acid nitrogen, somewhat preceding a rise in the ammonia 
nitrogen (fig. 3). In Experiment X. the changes were less marked, but 
in the same direction. 
Given hypodermically, chloroform, then, acted in the same manner as 
when given by the mouth, but to a lesser degree. How far this lesser 
degree is due to the smaller dose administered it is difficult to say. Miss 
Lindsay’s observations on rabbits seem to show that the administration of 
1 c.c. of chloroform by the mouth leads to the appearance of a higher 
/ 
f 
\ 
7 
\ 
r 
\ 
1 
'\ 
\ 
/ 
/ 
\ 
1 
1 
\ 
1 
/ 
\ 
v 
:/ 
/ 
I 
/ 
r 
r 4 
\ ! 
X 
,7 

\ f 
\ 
A 
V 
\ 
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— C0(NH 9 )o) 
NH 3 ( N. 
h -i i i Residual ) 
Fig. 3. — Experiment IX. 
