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Elimination of carbon monoxide from blood
550
CURRENT TOPICS.
[J. F. I.
R e c e n t Contributions of Chemistry to Medicine are discussed by ERNEST H. VOLWlLER (Ind. Eng. Chem., 1923, i5, 9o6-91o). Certain dyes, such as acriflavine, mereurochrome and mercurophen. have found application as bactericides and antiseptics. Acriflavine. also known as trypaflavine, is characterized by the unusual property of more marked bactericidal action in the presence of serum than in its absence. Mercurochrome and mercurophen are aromatic coinpounds in which mercury is attached directly to the benzene nucleus. Of the aromatic derivatives of arsenic, mention should be made of arsphenamine, neoarsphenamine, sulpharsphenamine and tryparsamide, which are used to combat diseases produced by certain minute animal parasites known as spirochetes and trypanosomes. The synthetic hypnotics and sedatives are derived from urethane, the sulphones, ureides, and closely related compounds. Epinephrine or adrenalin, the hormone which is secreted by the suprarenal glands and raises the blood-pressure, has been synthetized on a commercial scale. Thyroxin, the hormone which is secreted by the thyroid and governs the basal metabolism of the body, has been isolated in the pure state. Chaulmoogra oil, which is obtained from the seed of a tropical tree, contains two acids, chaulmoogric and hydnocarpic acids, which are characterized by the presence of a five-membered carbon ring. The esters and salts of these acids are of great value in the treatment of leprosy. J.S.H. E l i m i n a t i o n of Carbon Monoxide f r o m B l o o d . - - T h e most important factor in the treatment of cases of carbon monoxide poisoning is the early elimination of the carbon monoxide from the blood. R . R . SAVERS and W. P. YAI~T (Public Health Reports, 19..23, 38, 2053-2074) have made an exhaustive study of the use of air, oxygen, and a mixture of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the treatment of such poisoning. They draw the following general conclusions: Recovery depends to a great extent upon early elimination of the carbon monoxide from the blood. The rate of elimination depends on the percentage of oxygen in the inspired air and on the rate and depth of respiration. When a person has been gassed to such an extent that 35 or 40 per cent. of the hemoglobin of the blood has combined with carbon monoxide, administration of pure oxygen causes the elimination of the carbon monoxide to proceed four times as rapidly as in normal air. If 8 to IO per cent. of carbon dioxide be added to the pure oxygen prior to its administration, deep and rapid respiration is produced, and the carbon monoxide is eliminated five to six times as rapidly as in normal air. Every victim of carbon monoxide poisoning not under a physician's care should be caused to breathe oxygen in the purest available form for at least 2o to 45 minutes. It is also recommended that physicians treat the poisoning with the mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide whenever possible; otherwise they should use pure oxygen. J.S.H.
CURRENT TOPICS.
[J. F. I.
R e c e n t Contributions of Chemistry to Medicine are discussed by ERNEST H. VOLWlLER (Ind. Eng. Chem., 1923, i5, 9o6-91o). Certain dyes, such as acriflavine, mereurochrome and mercurophen. have found application as bactericides and antiseptics. Acriflavine. also known as trypaflavine, is characterized by the unusual property of more marked bactericidal action in the presence of serum than in its absence. Mercurochrome and mercurophen are aromatic coinpounds in which mercury is attached directly to the benzene nucleus. Of the aromatic derivatives of arsenic, mention should be made of arsphenamine, neoarsphenamine, sulpharsphenamine and tryparsamide, which are used to combat diseases produced by certain minute animal parasites known as spirochetes and trypanosomes. The synthetic hypnotics and sedatives are derived from urethane, the sulphones, ureides, and closely related compounds. Epinephrine or adrenalin, the hormone which is secreted by the suprarenal glands and raises the blood-pressure, has been synthetized on a commercial scale. Thyroxin, the hormone which is secreted by the thyroid and governs the basal metabolism of the body, has been isolated in the pure state. Chaulmoogra oil, which is obtained from the seed of a tropical tree, contains two acids, chaulmoogric and hydnocarpic acids, which are characterized by the presence of a five-membered carbon ring. The esters and salts of these acids are of great value in the treatment of leprosy. J.S.H. E l i m i n a t i o n of Carbon Monoxide f r o m B l o o d . - - T h e most important factor in the treatment of cases of carbon monoxide poisoning is the early elimination of the carbon monoxide from the blood. R . R . SAVERS and W. P. YAI~T (Public Health Reports, 19..23, 38, 2053-2074) have made an exhaustive study of the use of air, oxygen, and a mixture of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the treatment of such poisoning. They draw the following general conclusions: Recovery depends to a great extent upon early elimination of the carbon monoxide from the blood. The rate of elimination depends on the percentage of oxygen in the inspired air and on the rate and depth of respiration. When a person has been gassed to such an extent that 35 or 40 per cent. of the hemoglobin of the blood has combined with carbon monoxide, administration of pure oxygen causes the elimination of the carbon monoxide to proceed four times as rapidly as in normal air. If 8 to IO per cent. of carbon dioxide be added to the pure oxygen prior to its administration, deep and rapid respiration is produced, and the carbon monoxide is eliminated five to six times as rapidly as in normal air. Every victim of carbon monoxide poisoning not under a physician's care should be caused to breathe oxygen in the purest available form for at least 2o to 45 minutes. It is also recommended that physicians treat the poisoning with the mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide whenever possible; otherwise they should use pure oxygen. J.S.H.