The influence of the medium on the toxicity of certain alkaloids towards protozoa / by T.A. Henry and H.C. Brown.

  • Henry, Thomas Anderson, 1873-1958
Date:
[1923.]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The influence of the medium on the toxicity of certain alkaloids towards protozoa / by T.A. Henry and H.C. Brown. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    13/16 (page 71)
    however, large doses of bicarbonate of soda together with heavy inag- nesiuin carbonate and bismuth carbonate were taken, a slight increase in the alkalinity of the faeces did occur. For the suggestion to try this mixture we are indebted to Professor Maclean. Whether the oral administration of alkali will sufficiently raise the alkalinity of the content of the lower gut and the mucosa itself, in which amoeban are embedded, to markedly increase the toxicity of the alkaloid towards the parasite is difficult to say, and we consider that the rectal administration of the alkaloid in the presence of dilute alkali would enhance the chances of action. Clinical experiments on these lines are now in progress, and a })reliminary report has been given by Willmore in his paper which appears in this issue of the Transactions p. 26). The net results of this work, so far as therapeutical possibilities go, seem to be as follows :— 1. The toxicity of quinine, emetine and conessine towards the protozoa used in the experiments is considerably increased in an alkaline medium, and it is possible that if this condition can be realised in vivo, the action of these alkaloids in protozoal diseases may be made more certain and efficient. Clinical experiments on these lines have been instituted. 2. These results confirm Schaeffer’s observations that quinine dihydrochloi'ide (acid) is less active than quinine mono¬ hydrochloride (neutral), and emphasise Acton’s suggestion that for injection quinine base would probably be more efficient and possibly non-irritant, if a means can be devised for injecting it in solution in this form. references. Acton, H. 1922. Lancet. Vol. i., j). 12r>. Brown, H. C. 1922. British Medical Jnurnal. Vol. i., p. 99.‘1. IRIYE. H. Xisshin L/aha. Vol. xi., No. S». Py.MAN. F. L. 1919. Transactions of the ('hcniical Societij. \ ol. cxv.. ]). U».l. Skllards, A. W., and Leiva. L. 1929. /•hiH/i/iine Journal of Science. \ ol. xxii.. p. 1. SiNTON, J. A. 192;i. Indian Journal ot Medical Ilcscarch. ^ ol. x.. ]). S-IO. Schaeffer. H. 1917. Jiiochem. Zeitschr. Vol. Ixxxiii., p. 209. Woodruff, L. L. 1912. Journal cf Exiierimental Zooloijij. ^ ol. xii.. p. 20.7.