ON THE TOXIC ACTION OF CARBON DISULPHIDE

Abstract

It was stated in the first report that, the experimental animals (mouse, white rat, guinea-pig, rabbit) die within a short time by the inhalation of air containing 1.5-3 volume % of carbon disulphide gas. As these experiments have been performed by confining the animals in a vessel containing a calculated quantity of carbon disulphide gas, only the volume % of gas necessary to kill the animals could be asserted; but the quantity which must have been absorbed in the blood during inhalation can not be known.As described in the second report, the experiment was carried out in order to determine the quantity of gas absorbed in the blood as follows. A certain quantity of evaporated carbon disulphide gas contained in a small gas washing bottle and mixed with the air passing through this bottle, was allowed to enter the lungs of an experimental animal, and the carbon disulphide gas to be presented in the expired air was caught by means of a 10% alcoholic solution. of caustic potassium The quantity of gas absorbed into the animal's blood could thus be asserted by subtracting the quantity of gas found in the solution from that of the evaporated. The results from 19 experiments showed that, the total evaporated quantity was about 1g., and the half which (0.5g.) was absorbed in the blood, this being 0.3g. for 1kg. of body weight. In these cases, the inspired air contained, as already mentioned, about 17 volme % of carbon disulphide gas, and the poisoned animals died quickly in an average of 4 minutes. Comparing this 17 volume % of carbon disulphide gas with the 1.5-3 volume % of the gas mentioned in the first report, it can be easily seen that the difference between them is too great. For this reason, some changes have been made in the arrangements used in the experiments described in the second report, so as to diminish the volume % of the carbon disulphide gas in the air to be inspired. These changes are as follows:-(1) The ball-form end of the inspiratory tube of the gas washing bottle was changed into a small pointed canal, so that even the minutest particle of air passing through. the carbon disulphide liquid could be clearly visible in the form of small bubbles.(2) Between the bottle of carbon disulphide and the tracheal tube inserted into the trachea of rabbit, there was placed a T-shaped tube, through which the fresh air could come into the air containing carbon disulphide gas, which had passed through the tube during the inspiration of the animal. Thus the concentration of carbon disulphide gas in the inspiratory air was materially diluted.(3) In order to absorb the carbon disulphide gas in the expi- red air, instead of using 4 gas washing bottles, each containing 30c.c. of the 10% alcoholic solution of caustic potassium, as in the former experiment, 3 bottles were employed, the first containing 50c.c. of the same solution, the second 40c.c., the third 30c.c. Should the inspiratory tube of the first bottle be clogged by the crystal of potossium xanthogenate, this bottle should be immediately taken off, and then the second and third bottles continuously are used. In 12 experiments there was never a case, in which the second bottle was clogged by the crystal.(4) In this experiment, a very large water bottle of 20 litres capacity was used, because firstly the concentration of carbon disulphide gas in the inspiratory air should by far be less than that mentioned in the second report, secondly the time of intoxication should consequently be much longer, and thirdly the quantity of the flowing water which will necessary to suck the expired air into the 10% caustic kali alcoholic solution contained in 3 gas washing bottles as well as into the last water bottle must accordingly be very great.(5) To prevent the contrary current of inspiratory as well as expiratory air, a remarkable improvement was made in the construction of the valves situated at the correspondiug places.