The toxicity and urinary elimination of various bismuth preparations.

Abstract

A method has been devised for the rapid accurate determination of small quantities of bismuth in body-fluids and tissues.

This depends upon the wet combustion of the organic matter followed by colorimetric determination of bismuth as the iodide.

This new method was used for quantitative studies of the urinary elimination and tissue distribution of bismuth after injection of various bismuth preparations. At the same time the toxicity, M.T.D. and kidney pathology were studied. The bismuth preparations used included the soluble sodium potassium bismuth tartrate, sodium bismuth citrate, sodium bismuth thio-sulfate, insoluble bismuth oleate, and the insoluble suspension of precipitated bismuth. All bismuth preparations studied exert a toxic action upon the kidney of the rabbit producing necrosis of the tubules.

Twenty-four rabbits were used in the determinations upon which the results here reported are based. The daily urinary bismuth excretion was followed in some cases for three weeks. Dosages were checked when possible upon at least three animals. The intramuscular M.T.D. in the rabbit of the soluble sodium potassium bismuth tartrate is close to 100 mg. per kilo (40 mg. Bi). Twice this dose kills in from 1 1/2 to 5 days. The intramuscular M.T.D. of sodium bismuth thiosulfate is abfout 150 mg. per kilo (50 mg. Bi). Its effect upon the kidneys is nearly as great as the tartrate, even though here the acidic ion is not nephrotoxic, as is tartrate. Twice the ablove dose of the thiosulfate kills in from 5 to 6 days. Soluble sodium bismuth citrate is much less toxic. Intramuscular doses of 300 mg. per kilo (200 mg. Bi) of the citrate are just nephropathic, while doses of 125 mg. per kilo (85 mg. Bi) are practically non-toxic. In the case of the insoluble preparations the intramuscular M.T.D. of bismuth oleate is close to 200 mg. Bi per kilo.