Abstract
In several previous communications 1 , 2 , 3 we brought forth some evidence showing that diuretic measures increased neither the rate nor the percentage of elimination of barbital, nor did they shorten the recovery period from barbital depression. Since Gower and Van de Erve 4 recently again stated definitely that diuresis hastens recovery from barbital poisoning, and because of the practical therapeutic importance of the matter involved we decided to reinvestigate the problem.
Dogs were used throughout the experiments. Sodium barbital was administered in doses ranging from 225 to 600 mg. per kg. intravenously. Diuresis was produced by intravenous injection of appropriate doses of 10% glucose, physiological salt solution, 3% calcium chloride, and from 0.5 to 1.0% ammonium chloride. In contrast to the diuretic measures, dogs were dehydrated by withholding of fluids for 48 hours and by bleeding (12 cc. of blood per kg. withdrawn from the saphenous vein) immediately before barbital administration.
These intravenous injections were carried out by slow infusion with a burette, the total volume being injected during a period of from 10 to 12 hours. The animals, if they survived either procedure, were again given the same dose of barbital about 2 weeks following the first injection.
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