THE USE OF BAL (BRITISH ANTI-LEWISITE) IN THE TREATMENT OF THE INJURIOUS EFFECTS OF ARSENIC, MERCURY AND OTHER METALLIC POISONS

Abstract
BAL (2,3-dimercaptopropanol) has proven to be an effective antidote to arsenical poisoning in exptl. animals and to some injurious effects of arsenic in man, such as dermatitis, encephalitis and blood dyscrasias. The treatment with BAL of acute poisoning by mercury bichloride has been highly successful. Thirty-eight individuals who swallowed from 1 g. to 20 g. of HgCl2 were treated by BAL; all recovered. To be a life-saver BAL must be administered within 4 hrs. after poisoning has occurred. BAL has also been used successfully in the treatment of various forms of gold intoxication. It is effective in exptl. poisoning by antimony, but there is no exptl. evidence that it is of real value in lead poisoning.

This publication has 23 references indexed in Scilit: