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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    p.m., looked and behaved as if very sick, no other Kymptoms; 3.45 p. m., in attempting to get out of box fell over on back, had convuIsionH, whined, dyspnoea, died within 30 seconds. Autopsy: Stomach exhibited mild inflammation; small intestine inflamed and hem- orrhagic area.s on mucosa; liver engorged and friable; spleen normal; kidneys slightly congested; other organs appeared normal. The total amount of caffein fed to Dog 29 was 12.135 grams, which was given in 18 days. The average daily amount per kilo was therefore 07.08 mg. Dog 28. Male fox terrier. Low nitrogen diet was begun about four weeks before the feeding of caffein; 50 mg of caffein was then fed for seven consecutive days. Partial loss of appetite was observofl after the first dose. As the experiment progressed the desire for food steadily diminished, and the feces became fetid. Symptoms of intoxication manifested them- selves early in the experiment, and vomiting occurred after the fourth dose. The dog was then put on a diet exclusively of meat. After an intermission of 10 days 109 mg caffein per kilo were given. Since there were no symptoms, the following day the amount was increased to 125 mg per kilo. This dose proved fatal within IG to 20 hours. This dog was stout and strong, weight 12.25 kilos, received daily 0.269 gram nitrogen per kilo (88.269 calories per kilo). November 3: Weight, 11.75 kilos. November 10: Weight, 11.95 kilos. November 20: Weight, 11.20 kilos. All through this period had been kept in a cold, poorly ventilated room, put in a warm room, with bedding and good Aentdation. November 29: Weight, 11.95 kilos. December 1: Put in a cage; weight, 11.95 kilos. December 6: Weight, 11.95 kilos; 11.45 a. m., received 0.050 gram caffein per kilo; then received 30 cc 2 per cent caffein (0.6 gram) in practically one subcutaneous injec- tion; 4.30 p. m., ate only part of food. December 7: 10.25 a. m., received 30 cc 2 per cent caffein by subcutaneous injec- tion (0.6 gram, or 50 mg, per kilo); 1.45 p. m., seemed sen.sitive to touch, no desire for food, depressed in spirit. December 8: 11.40 a. m., received 30 cc 2 per cent caffein by subcutaneous injec- tion (50 mg per kilo); 1 p. m., depressed in spirit, hind legs seemed somewhat stiff, no desire for regular food, site of injection inflamed. December 9: 10.50 a. m., received 30 cc 2 per cent caffein by subcutaneous injec- tion (50 mg per kilo); 2.30 p. m., had vomited, no desire for regular food. December 10: Inflammation of site of injection, and swelling very pronounced; 2 p. m., received 0.5975 gram caffein, or 50 mg per kilo, with 30 grams of meat, refused regular food. December 11, 12: Received 0.5975 gram caffein by mouth, no symptoms except refusal of regular food, feces fetid. December 13-22: Put on meat diet exclusively, high temperature, no caffein, weight 10 kilos, appetite good, feces fetid. December 22: 12 m., weight 11 kilos, received 1.2 grams caffein by mouth (0.109 gram per kilo); 4 p. m., no symptoms. December 23: 11.30 a. m., received 1.375 grams caffein (0.125 gram per kilo) had vomited food of the day before, but could notice no caffein or capsules in vomit; 4.30 p. m., no symptoms, seemed in good .spirits, appetite good, had no meat to feed with, so was given low nitrogen feed, of which be ate about one-fourth. December 24: 9a. m., found dead, stiff, and cold. The mo.st striking effect of caffein in this dog is the increased intestinal putrefaction. The feces were still fetid 10 days after the administration of caffein was st(i])pod. Autopsy, dog 28: Stomach partially filled witli an undigested food mass; mucosa showed severe inflammation; small intestines presented a hemorrhagic enteritis along whole extent; large intestine also exhibited mild inflammation; liver was engorged; spleen appeared normal; kidneys slightly congested in cortical portion; other organs appeared normal. Dog 24. White and tan male: Was put on low protein diet six weeks before experi- ments with caffein were begun. The initial dose of 50 mg per kilo was then admin- istered on eight consecutive days. The only symptoms observed during this period of caffein administration were those of intestinal putrefaction. Fetid feces were noticed already after the first dose of caffein was injected. WTien the second dose of 75 mg of caffein was repeated, mild symptoms appeared, but none have been observed even with increased amounts of caffein. One-third nitrogen diet. Received daily 0.269 gram nitrogen per kilo (88.269 calories per kilo).