The Toxicity of Caffein: An experimental study on different species of animalsSalant, William
Science
The Toxicity of Caffein: An experimental study on different species of animals
Salant, William
Caffeine -- Physiological effect
December 16: Weight, 9.50 kilos; 3.15 p. m., received 0.9509 gram
caffein by mouth; 4.50 p. m., no symptoms.
December 17: Animal rested.
December 18: Received 0.950 gram caffein by mouth, no symptoms.
December 19: Received 0.9509 gram caffein by mouth, no symptoms.
December 20: 2.45 p. m., received 1.1875 grams caffein (0.125 gram per
kilo); 4 p. m., restless and quite sick; ate only a little food.
December 21: 9 a. m., still uncomfortable, allowed to rest, no caffein
given, gradually recovered appetite.
December 22: 11 a. m., received 1.875 grams caffein; 3 p. m., seemed
sick, but showed no other symptoms, appetite fair.
December 23: 9 a. m., showed no symptoms from the day before, ate food
gradually, seemed sick; 11.30 a. m., received 1.425 grams caffein
(0.150 gram per kilo); 1.30 p. m., looked and behaved as if very sick,
no other symptoms; 3.45 p. m., in attempting to get out of box fell over
on back, had convulsions, whined, dyspnoea, died within 30 seconds.
_Autopsy_: Stomach exhibited mild inflammation; small intestine
inflamed and hemorrhagic areas 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 67.68 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 observed after the first dose. As the
experiment progressed the desire for food steadily diminished, and the
feces became fetid. Symptoms of intoxication manifested themselves
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 16 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 ventilation.
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 injection; 4.30 p. m., ate only part of
food.
December 7: 10.25 a. m., received 30 cc 2 per cent caffein by
subcutaneous injection (0.6 gram, or 50 mg, per kilo); 1.45 p. m.,
seemed sensitive to touch, no desire for food, depressed in spirit.
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