DETOXICATION BY FINELY DISPERSED OIL-IN-WATER EMULSIONS AND THEIR INTRAVENOUS USE

¹ From the Physiology Department, St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, W. 2

1. The detoxicating action of finely dispersed oil-in-water emulsions is shown to be independent of either the alkalinity or the soap content of the emulsion.

2. From the effects of alteration in the area of the oil/water interface upon toxin-emulsion mixtures, it is concluded that the detoxicating mechanism is essentially due to adsorption of the toxin on the surface of the oil globules.

3. More complete detoxication occurs if the emulsion and toxin are mixed at body temperature, when protection is afforded even if the mixture is injected intravenously.

4. When two toxins are added serially to emulsion, protection is afforded to whichever toxin is added first to the exclusion of the second.

5. The antigenic properties of the toxin are not affected by detoxication with emulsion.

6. The preparation and composition of these finely dispersed oil-in-water emulsions are described.

7. With properly prepared emulsions, having uniform fine dispersion with an average globule size of 0.5 µ, fat embolism cannot occur. Inclusion of oxidative catalysts in the emulsion must be avoided since the products of oxidation are toxic.

8. The usual dose given is 20 cc. intravenously repeated as often as required. Small doses repeated at short intervals are more effective than infrequent large doses.