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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    statement in the introduction it is evident that the size of the sin^jle toxic or lethal dose of a substance is in no wise an index of the active dcfijree of its toxicity. The experiments with caffein here reported furnish additional evidence that this is trne, at least for the rabbit. GENERAL SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS. The toxicit} of cafTeiu in the rabbit varies with the mode of its administration, he'm<i: least when .iriven by raoutli and greatest by intravenous administration. The toxicity is from 15 to 20 per cent greater by subcutaneous injections than by mou<h, but is about half of that when injected into the ])eritoneal cavity. \o dilference was observed in the toxicity of calTein whether administered into gluteal or into the lumbar muscles. When introduced by this route the toxicity was found to be less by one-third llian when it is injected into the peritoneal cavity, but is about 30 per cent more toxic than the subcutaneous injections. White or black rabl)its were found to be less resistant to cafTein than gray rabbits. The resistance of the guinea pig to cafTein, as of the ra))l)it, is greatest when given by mouth. The minimum fatal dose is less by intraperitoneal injections, but greater than by subcutaneous injec- tions, thus differing from the rabbit in this regard. The adult cat is less resistant than the guinea pig or rabbit to cafTein. The mini- mum lethal dose by mouth is the same as by subcutaneous, and is less than by intraperitoneal, injection. The minimum fatal dose for dogs was found to be the same by mouth as by subcutaneous in- jection and is almost the same as for the cat. The toxicity of cafTein varies in the guinea pig according to season of the year. Age is likewise a factor in the toxicity of cafl'ein, young animals being more resistant than the full-grown and older animals; this was shown in experiments on rabbits, cats, and dogs. The symptoms of cafTein poisoning also were different in ])uppies and in full-grown dogs. Different diets, such as carrots and oats, did not influence the resist- ance of rabbits and guinea pigs to cafTein. Low protein diet tends to decrease resistance to cafTein in dogs. Young growing dogs are less resistant to cafTein on a meat than on a milk diet. CafTein is not cumulative in the rabbit or dog, even if administered for a con- siderable length of time. Some degree of tolerance may be induced m the rabbit under certain conditions, but not in dogs under the conditions of the experiments made in this investigation. The possi- bility, however, that dogs may accjuire tolerance for cafTein is not excluded. Although the rabbit tolerates a much larger single dose of cafTein than the dog, it was found, in experiments on clironic intoxication that the rabbit is less resistant to cafTein than the dog. The toxicity of cafl'ein is probably increased under pathological con-