Nov. 15,1915 Gossypol , the Toxic Substance in Cottonseed Meal 
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post-mortem observations 
Rabbit 954.—Excess fluid in abdominal cavity. Serous membrane in icteric 
condition. 
Rabbit 961.—Large excess abdominal fluid. Small intestines show enteritis. 
Blood vessels congested. 
Rabbit 962.—Large excess abdominal fluid. Small intestines inflamed and hemor¬ 
rhagic. Small thrombus in right heart. 
Guinea pig A.—Evidently died from mesenteric twist (convolvulus) in intestines. 
Posterior third greatly inflamed. Lungs congested and edematous. 
Rabbit 949.—Slight excess of abdominal fluid. Small intestines conspicuously 
inflamed. Large pericardial abscess present. Enteritis. 
Rabbit 937.—Slight excess abdominal fluid. Small intestines irritated throughout. 
Conspicuous thrombi in heart. Lungs congested and edematous. 
TOXICITY OP CRYSTALLINE GOSSYPOL “ACETATE” 
Crystalline gossypol “acetate” was obtained from a gossypol extract by 
the action of glacial acetic acid, which caused a slow deposition of yellow 
crystals. We have designated this substance as an “acetate,” although 
the acetic acid present is not firmly bound. 1 The product corresponded 
in general properties to Marchlewski's gossypol. It was administered 
intraperitoneally to four rabbits, proving fatal, and was fed daily to 
eight rabbits. It made all of them sick. One died from secondary 
causes. Two refused to eat the feed after 5 and 15 days, respectively, 
and five died within from 13 to 55 days, having eaten from 0.35 to 2.53 
gm. of crystalline gossypol “ acetate.” 
Intraperitoneal Injection or Crystalline Gossypol “Acetate” 
We dissolved 1.2 gm. of gossypol “acetate” in ether and mixed the solu¬ 
tion with 16 c. c. of cottonseed oil. The ether was evaporated by heat¬ 
ing over a steam bath. This was given intraperitoneally to two rabbits 
of about 1,100 gm. weight so that each rabbit received from 0.5 to 
0.55 gm. of gossypol “acetate.” Both animals died and were cold in six 
hours. The autopsy showed a considerable portion of the dose in the 
abdominal cavity, so that much more than a lethal dose was given. 
About 3 gm. of a yellow, crudely crystalline product similar to that 
which was injected in 0.5 gm. doses to rabbits 955 and 956 was recrystal¬ 
lized as follows: The material was dissolved in hot alcohol and heated to 
boiling, then 50 per cent of acetic acid was added until the liquid became 
slightly turbid. This mixture was again heated to the boiling point and 
allowed to cool. Most of the substance separated in yellow, flat, pointed 
crystals, about 0.1 to 0.5 mm. long, which melted with darkening at 
about 178° C. 
1 The term “acetate” is arbitrarily used. Gossypol crystallizes from glacial acetic acid and even from 
quite dilute acetic acid with a molecule of acetic acid, which is not removed by long boiling with water 
or by heating to 115° to 120°. Its presence thus escaped our attention as it did Marchlewski’s. It is 
entirely improbable that a small amount of acetic acid modifies in any way the physiological action of 
gossypol. See " Results of feeding precipitated gossypol.” 
