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
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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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    doses were administered by iujectioii into the lumbar muscles the appearance of symptoms was delayed several hours in some cawes. The duration of life in thtjse 14 rabbits varied considerably. Eight of them died within 1 to 20 hours; six survived. About 0.2 gram caffein per kilo may be regarded as the minimum fatal dose, while the minimum toxic dose is somewhere between 130 and 150 mg per kilo. INTRAVENOUS INJECTION. These experiments were carried out on well-fed, full-grown gray rabbits. The diet for several days preceding the experiments consisted of oats or carrots, which were given ad libitum. The injections were made into the ear veins from a burette or by means of a syringe, the temperature of the caffein solution being about 40° C. Attention was also directed to the effect of the rate of injection and of the concentration on the toxicity. The minimum toxic as well as lethal doses were determined as shown in the following experiments. Series A. In these experiments the rate of injection was about 1 cc of 2 per cent caffein solution per minute. Rabbit 194. While, female. Weight, 1,310 grams. October 19: Injected 7.5 cc 2 per cent solution caffein (115 mg per kilo) into the ear vein. Rabbit showed stiffness; paralysis of extremities appeared soon after.^f Rabbit survived. Rabbit 556. Gray, female. Weight, 1,635 grams. January 31: 2 p. m., 11 cc 2 per cent caffein (134 mg per kilo) injected into ear vein, in about 11 minutes; 2.10 p. m., convulsions, rabbit remained lying on its side; during the rest of the hour it had convulsions occasionally; 3.20 p. m., convulsions and died. Rabbit did not urinate after the injection of caffein. Rabbit 657. Gray, female. Weight, 1,.5S0 grams. January 31: 2.30 to 2.37 p. m., 7 cc 2 per cent caffein injected from the burette at the rate of 1 cc per minute; 2.37 p. m., flow of liquid ceased, veins were engorged and bled freely, injection was continued by means of a sjTinge; 2 cc 2 per cent caffein injected in two minutes; injections discontinued as convulsions appeared; 2.50 ]). m., rabbit raised itself but fell over; 3.10 p. m., rabbit assumed normal attitude, walked about the floor without manifesting any signs of the effects of caffein; 4.30 p. m., walked about, gait normal, condition seemed to be good. February 1: 2 p. m., condition good, appetite good, total amount of caffein injected, 9 cc 2 per cent solution, or 114 mg per kilo. Rabbit 558. Gray, female. Weight, 1,590 grams. January 31: 3 p. m., given 8 cc 2 per cent caffein in eight minutes; 3.10 p. m., violent conAoilsions; 3.20 p. m., rabbit was stretched out on his abdomen, extremities extended, urinated; 4.30 p. m., looked normal; was able to walk about. February 1: 2 p. m., condition good, appetite good. Rabbit 292. Belgian hare, male. Weight, 1,770 gram^. February 18: 4.26 to 4.39 p. m., 12.5 cc warm caffein solution (0.141 gram per kilo) injected into ear vein, convulsion followed when this quantity was injected, tonic rigidity of limbs followed soon after; 4.52 p. m., condition unchanged, rabbit on floor, limbs stretched out, and lying on abdomen. Rabbit 294. Belgian hare, female. Weight, 1,350 grams. Carrot diet for about 10 days before the experiment. February 19: 12.20 p. m., 5 cc 2 per cent caffein (74 mg per kilo) injected into ear vein in five minutes, edema of the ear, other ear used, 3.5 cc injected in 10 min- utes, repeated convulsions; 1.25 p. m., rabbit still alive, frequent attacks of convul- sions; 2.30 p. m., found dead. Total amount injected in 15 minutes, 8.5 cc, or 0.126 gram per kilo. It will be observed in the preceding experiments that symptoms of severe intoxi- cation were present in all of the six rabbits, but only two of these (Nos. 294 and 556) died from the effects of caffein. Of those which survived, three received doses of a Time of Injection Inadvertently omitted, but was probably not slower than In the other cases of this series.