“Contributions to the study of sulfur. 1. The metabolism in brombenzol poisoning”

Abstract

Baumann and his pupils investigated the effect of the administration of the halogen derivatives of the hydrocarbons, and found that one of the results in the disturbance which followed was the elimination of halogen aromatic mercapturic acids, which were regarded as derivatives of cystin. Later, Friedmann investigated these compounds and was able to confirm Baumann's view. The mercapturic acids are derivatives of cystein, the reduction product of cystin.

This study is a part of an investigation of cystinuria, the view, which has been advanced by previous observers, being taken that the process in brombenzol poisoning is an experimental cystinuria. Dogs were used in these experiments, and were fed on a uniform diet. The animals were catheterized once a day. Analyses of the urine, as complete as possible, were made. The feces were examined for nitrogen and fats.

During the period of administration of the brombenzol the nitrogen and urea were somewhat increased. The urea followed the total nitrogen closely. The preformed ammonia remained at a level below that of the fore period. The kreatinin estimations did not give results of any distinctness.

The investigation of the partition of sulfur led to the result that, while the total sulfur excretion was not increased during the experiment, there was almost complete suppression of the alkaline sulfates. The excretion of neutral sulfur, represented for the most part in this case by parabromphenyl-mercapturic acid, was increased 400 %. The curves representing the alkaline and neutral sulfur were antipodes. The ethereal sulfates rose markedly during the feeding period. In one experiment it was shown that during the first two days of the administration the total sulfur excretion remained constant, while the total sulfate-sulfur fell rapidly. This period is being made the subject of closer study.