Emetic and Fatal Doses of Digitalis at High Altitudes

Abstract

Conclusions

The emetic and fatal doses of digitalis in significant numbers of pigeons were found to be 40 and 22% less, respectively, at an altitude of 10,000 feet than at sea-level. A similar tendency was shown by the extremes in fatal doses for cats, hut the results were inconclusive, due probably to greater variations in cats and smaller numbers used. The higher potency of digitalis at high altitudes reflects changes in state of the emetic and circulatory functions at high levels and indicates the desirability of reducing the dosage of the drug at high levels so as to avoid undesirable and toxic reactions.