Fatal Poisoning by Methyl Salicylate Liniment

Abstract

MEDICAL MEMORANDA MEDICAL JOURUAL Primary Syncope.-We had one fatal case of this in a girl aged 3 with some history of bronchitis; she was being anaesthetized for a hernia operation. The case resembled in every way the well-known primary syncope of chloroform anaesthesia, and we attribute this to the same mechanism of vagal inhibition. Sugar Metabolism.-We were able to have blood-sugar estimations in only 3 cases. In each there was a rise after 30 to 45 minutes, but much less than that recorded for chloroform or ether by Hewer (1939). Acetone was found in the urine on the mnorning following operation in 23 of 68 cases, in none of which had ether been used. This is in striking contrast to Hewer's report that he did not find acetonuria in any case at all. Post-operative Vomiting.-This was absent in 52 out of 80 cases, and slight in the-remaining 28.