Cinchophen Poisoning. ∗

Abstract

Cinchophen is usually given in therapeutic doses of 71/2 grains 3 times a day. Considering 150 pounds as the normal or average weight, this is a dose of 22 mg. per kilo.

In order to produce cinchophen poisoning quickly 3 dogs were given 27 times the therapeutic dose, i. e., 595 mg. per kilo mixed with their food. Every 3 or 4 days the blood sugar, urea nitrogen and Van den Bergh were determined. In this group the dogs refused to eat after from 8 to 10 doses of the drug. The urea nitrogen showed a marked rise, then a depression followed by death. Dog 1 lived 10 days, Dog 4, 17 days, and Dog 2, 20 days. At autopsy these dogs showed from one to 3 acute gastric ulcers and a number of yellowish areas over the surface of the liver. On microscopic examination the liver showed varying degrees of liver necrosis from small areas of coagulation necrosis just beneath the capsule, as in Dog 1, to complete disappearance of liver cells in small areas, as in Dog 4.

Dogs 5 and 6 were given the same dose of cinchophen per kilo. The blood sugar, blood urea nitrogen and bromsulphalein retention determinations were made. Dog 6 ate 2 doses, refused to eat more, and died 9 days later. The urea nitrogen increased at first, then decreased in amount. When the urea nitrogen decreased the bromsulphalein test showed increased retention of the dye. Dog 5 ate 3 doses of the drug, then refused to eat. The changes in blood determinations were similar in that the urea nitrogen was slightly increased in amount, then decreased, while the bromsulphalein was retained. After fasting the bromsulphalein retention subsided and the urea nitrogen increased in amount.