Abstract
The importance of this subject rests in its relation to the markedly increased ammonia content of the blood of animals in parathyroid tetany. In a recent paper, 1 evidence was presented which indicates that this increased ammonia is apparently associated with an impaired liver activity. That there is a marked similarity of the symptoms of ammonia poisoning and meat intoxication after Eck fistula to those of complete thyroidectomy was also pointed out and is further confirmed by the present work. These experiments were carried out at the suggestion of Dr. Carlson with the view of determining whether the ammonia concentration in the blood of animals in parathyroid tetany is sufficient by itself to cause tetany, assuming that no tolerance to the ammonia is developed.
Slow injections of ammonium carbonate in solution were made intravenously, the saphenous vein in dogs, and the jugular vein in cats being used. Blood samples were drawn for analysis when the symptoms became of the severity usually observed in parathyroid tetany or had returned to such after excessive injection. Some differences in ammonia content are inevitable and are due to the rapid diffusion of the ammonia into the tissues and the lymph, to elimination by the kidneys and to conversion into urea by the liver. The results obtained are as follows:
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