The depression of the ammonia destroying power of the liver after thyroid-parathyroidectomy

Abstract

1. The symptoms produced by intravenous injections of ammonium carbonate and ammonium carbamate in dogs (Marfori) are practically identical with the symptoms of thyroid-parathyroidectomy in dogs, foxes and cats. The same is true of the typical symptoms of poisoning on liberal protein diet in dogs with Eck fistula or after ligation of the hepatic artery (Nencki, Pawlow, Sal-eski, Rothberger, Winterberg, Hawk). After parathyroidectomy in dogs there is an increase in the ammonia content of the blood (MacCallum and Voegtlin). A high protein (meat) diet with its attendant increase of ammonia in the portal blood accelerates and intensifies the tetany in thyroid-parathroidectomized dogs (Munk, Breisacher, Beebe). MacCallum and Voegtlin succeeded in obtaining tetany in only three dogs when placed on starvation. We find that in thyroid-parathyroidectomized cats the feeding of meat appears to hasten the appearance of tremors and convulsions, and that the symptoms are less severe and life is prolonged in starving animals, but this point can be settled only after very extensive experimentation because of the periodicity of the symptoms. The foregoing facts taken altogether suggest that the tremors and convulsions usually following thyroid-parathyroidectomy in carnivora may be due to ammonia poisoning.