The toxicity of caffein : an experimental study on different species of animals / By William Salant and J. B. Rieger.

  • Salant, William, 1870-1943.
Date:
1912
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The toxicity of caffein : an experimental study on different species of animals / By William Salant and J. B. Rieger. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    Series A. (Doses of 147 to 107 inK of cafloln per kilo were employod in these experiments.] Rabbit 3S2. Bclgicin hare, female. Weight, 1,070 grains. Diet, oats. March 25: 8.5 cc 2 per cent caffein (158 mg per kilo) injected subculaneously at 2.15 p. m.; 4 p. in., reflexes increased; 5.45 p. m., increases of reflexes still more marked. March 2(;: Rabbit looked normal; no symptom.s observed. Rabbit.1^1. Belgian hare, female. Weight, 1,170 grams. Diet, oaLs. March 25: 2.15 p. m., 9 cc 2 per rout caffein (153 mg per kilo) injected subcutane- ously; 4 p. m., reflexes increa.sed; 5.45 p. ni., condition the same. March 2(j: Rabbit looks normal; no symptoms observed. Rabbit 3JS. Belgian hare, female. Weight, 1,300 grams. Diet, oats. March 25: 9 cc 2 percent caffein injected subcutaneously (1-50 mg per kilo); 4 p. m., reflexes increased; 5.45 p. m., reflexes increased but not markedly. March 26: No symptoms; rabbit looks normal. Rabbit 322. White female. Weight, 1,065 grams. Diet, oats. March 17: 8 cc 2 per cent caffein (150 mg per kilo) injected subculaneoiisly at 11.55 a. m.; 12..55 p. m., reflexes increased, but no tetanus nor any oilier symptoms. March 18: Rabbit running around in cage; condition apparently normal. March 25: Condition of rabbit good. Rabbit 217. White. Weight, 1,355 grams. Diet, oats. October 29: 10 cc 2 per cent caffein (147 mg per kilo) injected subcutaneously at 1.51 p. m. 5.15 p. m., rabbit alive; survived. Rabbit 219. Maltese. Weight, 1,S20 grams. Diet, oats. October 29: 14 cc 2 per cent caffein injected subcutaneously at 1.40 p. m. (153 mg per kilo); 5.15, rabbit alive; survived. Rabbit 194. White female. Weight, 1,490 grams. Diet, oats. October 14: 13 cc 2 per cent caffein (174 mg per kilo) injected subcutaneously; increased reflexes and tremors were observed. October 15: Condition of rabbit good; no symj^toms. Rabbit 191. Brotvn male. Weight, 1,915 grains. Diet, oats. October 14: 16 cc 2 per cent caffein (167 mg per kilo) injected subcutaneously; reflexes increased and tremors present. October 15: Condition of rabbit good. A study of this series shows that about 150 mg of caffein per kilo caused increased reflexes within one to two hours after injection. ^Vhen the dose was increased, as in rabbits 194 and 191, the symptoms were more pronounced; 150 mg per kilo may be regarded as the minimum dose which produces symptoms of nervous irritability Avhen caffein is injected subcutaneously. Experiments with larger doses were there- fore carried out in order to determine the minimum fatal dose. Series B. Approximately 0.2 gram of caffein per kilo was employed in these experiments. Diet and raie as possible factors which may influence the toxicity of caffein were made the subject of study in these experiments which were divided into two groups as shown in the table, page 25. Rabbit 95. Gray and ivhite male. Weight, 1,478 grams. Diet, oats. February 27: 11.30 a. m., 15 cc 2 per cent caffein (210 mg per kilo) injected sub- cutaneously; 2.20 p. m., no symptcms, tremors observed when handled, but not marked, reflexes slightly increased, no muscular rigidity nor any other symptoms; 2.45 p. m., rabbit suddenly became very restless, jumped off the table, and had convulsions; 3.45 p. m., rabbit died, rigor mortis set in almost immediately after death. Rabbit 96. Gray and white male. Weight, 1,585 grams. Diet, oats. February 27:_ 16 cc 2 per cent caffein (200 mg per kilo) injected subcutaneously at 3.40 p. m.; increased reflexes observed about one hour after caffein was injected, but no other symptoms. February 28: Rabbit found dead. Rabbit 112. Bla/^h female. Weight, 875 grams. Diet, oats. March 18: 9 cc 2 per cent caffein (205 mg per kilo) injected subcutaneously at 3 p. m.; 3.30 p. m., rabbit became restless, reflexes were increased, tremors were