Abstract
The experiments were carried out on frogs, rabbits, cats and dogs. The alcohols were administered in various concentrations and were given by mouth, injected subcutaneously, or into the peritoneal cavity. The toxicity of amyl alcohol was in all cases much greater than that of ethyl alcohol. The difference in the toxicity of ethyl and amyl alcohol was even more marked in subacute intoxication. The experiments on frogs showed that the minimum fatal toxic dose of amyl alcohol is from one eighth to one seventh that of ethyl alcohol, while the toxic dose of amyl alcohol for the rabbit is only about one fourth to one half that of ethyl alcohol.
The effect of ethyl and amyl alcohol on blood pressure.— The experiments were carried out with 2 per cent. solutions on healthy dogs 8 to 10 kilos in weight, and on cats. Morphine-ether narcosis was employed for the dogs, and ether alone for cats. Injections were made from a burette into the femoral vein. The fall of blood pressure after amyl alcohol was introduced, was considerably greater than that after the introduction of the same quantity of ethyl alcohol. In some experiments, the injection of 15 c.c. of 2 per cent. amyl alcohol in thirty two seconds caused a fall of blood pressure of 80 millimeters of mercury, while the same amount of ethyl alcohol injected in four seconds was followed by a fall of blood pressure, amounting only to 20 millimeters of mercury.
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