The action of ammonia upon the lungs.

Abstract

A study was made of rabbit and guinea pig lungs, and the effect of prolonged inhalation of ammonia in low concentration. The author used for this purpose a special apparatus, giving in the chamber a constant percentage of ammonia. Concentrations of 1.5, 0.5, 0.25 and 0.15 cc. of gaseous ammonia per liter of the chamber air were used. The experimental animals were kept in this chamber constantly until either death occurred or they were killed for examination. Their temperatures were taken daily, and they were weighed from time to time. Out of a total of 22 experimental animals, 3 rabbits and 11 guinea pigs died spontaneously, and 3 rabbits and 5 guinea pigs were killed. There was a rise of temperature in all the experimental animals exposed to concentrations of ammonia above 0.15 percent, which was usually more noticeable about the middle or toward the end of the period of exposure. The maximum rise was usually 0.3° to 2.5° C. above normal. The clinical symptoms produced were those of a pneumonia. Autopsy ...