Effects of Administration of Trinitrotoluene

Abstract

SEVERAL workers have shown that the administration of aromatic nitro- and amino-bodies to the human being results in cyanosis and porphyrinuria, indicating a disturbance of pigment metabolism. Trinitrotoluene (T.N.T.), for example, may damage the liver and cause anaemia, jaundice and porphyrinuria, and serious effects on the health of munition workers can result. A short while ago, we were investigating the action of T.N.T. upon the haemopoietic system in healthy rats and, as its metabolism in the body has now been studied extensively1, we think it is of interest to record some of our results here.