THE EFFICACY OF VARIOUS THIOLS AS ANTIDOTES TO LEWISITE

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Abstract
The following thiols were tested for their effectiveness in counteracting the systemic toxic action of lewisite (β-chlorovinyldichloroarsine) in the rat: 1- and 2-mercaptopropane, 2-mercaptoethanol, 1,2-dimercaptoethane, 1,2- and 1,3-dimercaptopropane, 1,2,3-trimercaptopropane, 1,2-dimercapto-n-butane, 2,3-dimercaptopropanol, 1,3-dimercapto-2-propanol, 2,2′-dimercaptodiethyl ether, 2,2′-dimercaptodiisopropyl ether, and 3,3′-dimercaptodipropyl ether. The toxicity and volatility of these compounds were also studied.The tests of antidotal activity were conducted by applying the thiol to the skin at a site which had been dosed with approximately twice the LD50 of lewisite. Under these conditions the monothiols gave no evidence of antidotal activity whereas all the dithiols and the trithiol studied showed some activity. 2,3-Dimercaptopropanol (BAL) and its isomer, 1,3-dimercapto-2-propanol, were much more effective as antidotes to lewisite than any of the other compounds tested. Not only did 2,3-dimercaptopropanol show a somewhat higher antidotal activity than its isomer, but it was also found to be much less toxic.
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