Abstract
The purpose of this investigation was to determine the average lethal dose of nembutal for guinea pigs, that is, the dose which kills 50% of a large group of the animals. All animals used on these experiments were normal and well fed. They were used only once.
The drug was injected intraperitoneally into 510 guinea pigs. The animals were divided into 4 weight-groups and the doses per kilo body weight of guinea pigs varied by 2.5 mg. increments from 42.5 to 67.5 mg. Table I summarizes the results.
The weights of the guinea pigs greatly influenced both the duration of sleep for those animals that recovered and the toxicity for those that died, less of the drug per kilo body weight being required for both of these effects with the heavier animals than with the smaller pigs.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.