The use of morphine in connection with serumtherapy of botulism

Abstract

Some time ago we have observed the delay in the rate of absorption of botulinus toxin in the animals subjected to ether anesthesia. Combining ether anesthesia with the specific serum therapy, we have been able to save animals poisoned with botulinus toxin where antitoxin alone failed to do so. In view of the fact that the application of ether anesthesia in cases of botulinus poisoning in men would be difficult on account of the pronounced respiratory distress present as a predominant symptom in such cases, we have attempted to find a satisfactory substitute for ether anesthesia. Among various substances thus far tried with various degrees of success, morphine seems to give the best results. Thus, one-quarter of a cubic centimeter of botulinus toxin (125 M.L.D.) given by the mouth causes death of a guinea pig of 250 grams in from 10 to 12 hours. The administration of an excess of anti-toxin intracardially does not save the animal if more than three hours have been allowed to elapse between the feeding of the toxin and subsequent injection of antitoxin. If guinea pigs of 250 grams are similarly fed with 125 M.L.D. of botulinus toxin and if 0.02 gram of morphine is given to them subcutaneously (in 10 per cent. solution) soon after feeding of the toxin, such guinea pigs die in from 26 to 46 hours if not given any antitoxin. Thus 0.02 gram of morphine delays the death from botulinus poisoning and more than doubles the length of the life of the animal. If antitoxin is introduced intracardially into such animals (treated with morphine) the animals can be saved even as late as 24 hours after ingestion of toxin.