Abstract
The present investigation gives a comparison between the distribution of arsenic in normal animals 1 and animals which were under the influence of epinephrin. Epinephrin was given subcutaneously twenty minutes before the salvarsan was injected intravenously. In Table I the figures in column (A) indicate the arsenic content in mg. per 100 gms. dried specimen of the various organs after an intravenous injection of 80 mg. salvarsan per kilo body weight, preceded by the subcutaneous injection of 5 mg. per kilo body weight of epinephrin. The figures under (B) are given for comparison and represent arsenic determinations in rats which received intravenous injections of 160 mg. of salvarsan per kilo of body weight without epinephrin. A dose of 80 mg. of salvarsan is equivalent to 25 mg. of metallic arsenic and a dose of 160 mg. of salvarsan contains 50 mg. of metallic arsenic.
Table I1 shows the percentage of the arsenic, actually injected, that is present in the organs at the given intervals. Here again the
figures in column (A) represent salvarsan preceded by epinephrin and those under (B) salvarsan alone.
The results of these studies can be briefly summarized as follows: Under normal conditions arsenic injected in the form of the disodium salt of salvarsan intravenously into the mammalian body is immediately distributed to the various organs. Only 5.12 per cent of the amount actually injected remains in the blood stream immediately after the injection while 94.88 per cent must either be distributed in the tissues or be excreted. Shortly after this general distribution a reorientation of all organs sets in. As demonstrated in former work, 2 there is an increase in the action of the liver and other abdominal organs accompanied by a dilation of their vessels.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.