THE PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION OF "MUSSEL POISON"

¹ From the Pharmacological Laboratory of the University of California Medical School and the George Williams Hooper Foundation, San Francisco, California

A potent material extracted from poisonous mussels has been studied. It has been shown that this material is slowly absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract and rapidly excreted by the kidneys. Its main action seems to be depression of respiration. The cardio-inhibitory and the vasomotor centers are also depressed as is the conduction system of the myocardium. It has no effect on smooth muscle in perfusion experiments. The rabbit and mouse seem most susceptible to the poison while its effect on the dog is less marked. Frogs are quite resistant. The clinical picture in man has been described and therapeutic procedures suggested.