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
November 10: 9 a. m., paralysis of posterior extremities; died at
1 p. m.
Analysis of the results obtained in the experiments of this series and
inspection of Table I, page 25, show that all four of the rabbits which
survived doses of 236 to 252 mg of caffein per kilo were Belgian hares.
Of the four which died one only was a Belgian hare. The other three
were white rabbits. Two of these were fed oats; the other two received
carrots during seven days preceding the administration of caffein.
This diet does not seem to be a factor, therefore, in the toxicity of
caffein. Moreover, it may be observed that rabbit No. 122, which was
fed oats, died after receiving 250 mg per kilo, while rabbit No. 250
received the same diet and survived the same dose of caffein per kilo.
Experiments 234 and 334 offer another illustration that the toxicity
of caffein is not dependent upon diet, since both rabbits were fed
carrots, but the same dose of caffein caused only symptoms in one
while it proved fatal to the other. It is evident, therefore, that
the difference in resistance to caffein shown in these experiments is
in all probability due to race, the Belgian hare being more resistant
to caffein than rabbits of other varieties. Rabbit No. 335 seems to
be an exception, but the post-mortem examination showed the presence
of coccidiosis of the liver. As will be shown later, wherever this
condition prevailed even smaller doses of caffein proved fatal.
SERIES D.
To obtain additional evidence regarding the resistance of the various
races of rabbits to caffein and to ascertain the smallest dose which
is surely fatal to the gray rabbit or Belgian hare was the object of
this series of experiments. The diet in all cases consisted of oats,
which was given ad libitum excepting to rabbit No. 235, which received
carrots for one week previous to the injection of caffein. The doses
administered ranged from 267 to 300 mg per kilo and were administered
to different varieties of adult rabbits.
_Rabbit 253. Brown and black, male. Weight, 1,600 grams. Diet,
oats, November 9 to 12._
November 12: 11.30 a. m., urine from bladder acid, no albumen, no
sugar; 11.35 a. m., 22 cc 2 per cent caffein (275 mg per kilo)
injected subcutaneously; 11.45 a. m., rabbit jumped, off the table,
had convulsions, retraction of head and opisthotonos, general tremors,
anterior extremities stretched out, posterior extremities almost
normal, frequent twitchings; died at 12.15 p. m.
_Rabbit 252. Black, female. Weight, 1,335 grams. Diet, oats, November
9 to 12._
November 12: 11.30 a. m., 18 cc 2 per cent caffein (270 mg per kilo)
injected subcutaneously. Urine obtained from bladder before injection,
acid, no albumen, no sugar, color normal, tremors and great excitement
noticed about 12 noon; 4.30 p. m., when handled, showed unusual
restlessness and excitement followed by convulsions with opisthotonos;
occasional twitching, condition bad. Died 4.35 p. m.
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