POISONING BY SULPHONAL

Evening Star, Issue 11663, 23 January 1902, Page 7

POISONING BY SULPHONAL

An esteemed correspondent sends us the following in regard to the letter of "Common Sense " appearing in our issue of Monday last:—The reputation for " harmlessness of this hypnotic must be considered at an end. The leading features of the poisonous effects of sulphonal are cerebral, spinal, gastric, and intestinal affections, and chills, with sensation, of intense cold. Poisoning conies on at variable times—sometimes before any relief ft-o sleeplessness appears. Often rhc iwo effects are parallel. Small quantities produce dangerous effects in some patients. Poisoning may show itself suddenly in those who have taken it a long time with apparent benefit, affecting their muscular and intellectual faculties. in others the symptoms come a day or two after the drug has been discontinued. The symptoms noted by Dr Maradau are as follow —viz., stupidity of mind, paralysis of body, and vomiting, diarrhcea, and violent chills. Dr Brcsslauer (of Vienna), after dosing seventy-seven patients with sulphonal, vouched that it set up great constipation, pulse slow (in some casas feeble and rapid), discolored patches on the limbs, and greatprostration, producing death from heart failure, and edema of the lungs.