SOME EFFECTS OF AN ACUTE TOXIC SUBSTANCE FORMED BY SOLUTION OF METHYL‐BIS (B‐CHLOROETHYL) AMINE IN WATER AFTER INJECTION IN ANIMALS

Water contaminated with nitrogen mustard—methyl‐bis (B‐chloroethyl) amine—was found to contain a heat stabile acutely toxic substance, probably methyl B‐hydroxyethyl ethylenimonium chloride. When injected subcutaneously into experimental animals an acute neurotoxic syndrome was observed. The essential features of this were rapidly progressive muscular hypotonia, inco‐ordination and tremor, followed later by ophthalmoplegia and finally paralysis of respiration. Ingestion of this solution did not produce this picture at all, but on the contrary was followed more gradually by symptoms of systemic nitrogen mustard poisoning. With smaller toxic doses complete recovery sometimes occurred after exhibition of hypotonia for some hours, but sometimes death occurred several days later, again from systemic nitrogen mustard poisoning. From admittedly incomplete evidence it is suggested that the action of this interesting poison may be on the anterior horn cells. I am indebted to Professors Lovatt Evans, Gaddum, Cameron, Boyland, and Liddell for their advice, and to the Chief Scientific Officer, Ministry of Supply, for permission to publish.