STUDIES ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF HYDROGEN CYANIDE

Abstract

The experiments indicate that little or no HCN penetrates frog skin "cells" except in the form of undissociated molecules. The total amount of intracellular cyanide is proportional to the concentration of undissociated molecules in the external solution. The internal pH value of the "cell" effect on the penetrations of HCN through frog skin. From a study of the effect of hydrogen cyanide on the potential difference of frog skin, it appears that dilute solutions of cyanide cause an initial stimulation followed by toxicity. As the concentration is increased, the stimulation is decreased and the toxicity is increased until a certain concentration of cyanide is reached where there is no stimulation but a marked toxic effect is evident. The data also indicate that the molecule is more toxic than the ion.