On the occurrence of degenerative changes in the liver in animals intoxicated by mercuric chloride and by uranium nitrate. 1

The following observations are based on the study of fifty-two intoxications by mercuric chloride and eighty-four intoxications by uranium nitrate. Dogs were employed for the experiments. In the animals intoxicated by mercuric chloride, the poison was administered by stomach tube in the dose of 15 mgs. per kilogram. In the uranium intoxications, the poison was given subcutaneously in doses varying from 4 to 6.4 mgs. per kilogram.

The experiments were terminated at different periods during the intoxication without employing an anesthetic. Such a termination has eliminated the acute degenerative changes in the liver which may develop very rapidly from the use of such an agent. The changes in the liver in both types of intoxications have shown great variation in their severity and the rapidity with which they occur.