The Treatment of Poisoning by Arsenicals and Mercury with BAL

摘要

This technical bulletin decribes the use of dimercaptopropanol, or British, Anti-Lewisite (BAL) in the treatment of arsenical and mercurial poisonings. The background to the use of BAL, its mechanism of action and experimental and clinical studies are given. The toxic range and symp toms at higher dosages are provided, and the appropriate dosage for both arsenical and mercurial poisoning are detailed. The report concludes that the drug BAL has a favorable effect upon the symptomatology and mortality of acute arsenical and mercurial poisoning, and that sufficient experimental and clinical studies have been done to justify its employment in Veterans Administration hospitals.