Abstract
In the animal organism the possibility of the formation of soaps from fatty acids and various bases is often present. It is believed by many that soaps formed in the intestine are absorbed as such and act as a means of fat transport in the blood. In many types of pathological process, soap may be produced, as for instance in atherosclerosis, acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis, necrosis of the brain, etc. Soap is often used as an abortifacient, in various therapeutic measures, in the preparation of vaccines, and selective bacterial cultivation.
We have, therefore, made a study in mice, rats and rabbits of the activities of various of these substances. The following soaps were studied: The sodium, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine salts of capric, lauric, oleic, linoleic, and ricinoleic acids (n/20 aqueous solutions at pH 7.4). This is a preliminary paper, the detailed work appearing in the Naunyn-Schmiedeberg Archive für experimentelle Pharmakologie.
Studies on 500 mice, intravenously injected, show the following order of toxicity, the amount required to produce death in 24 hours being taken as the M.L.D. Mono, di and triethanolamine ricinoleate > Na ricinoleate and Na laureate > Na oleate, Na linoleate, mono and diethanolamine oleate, and monoethanolamine caprinate > triethanolamine oleate > Na linoleate and diethanolamine caprinate > triethanolamine caprinate and Na butyrate. The amounts required to produce death within 24 hours when the soaps were injected intraperitoneally were from 2-10 times as great.
Pathologic studies of mice dying within 24 hours as the result of a single soap injection have shown so far only marked and uniform congestion of the viscera and in many cases hemorrhage into the pulmonary alveoli. Large doses of soap are required to produce very evident hemolysis.
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