Fatal Digitalis Poisoning

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Abstract
Two cases of digitalis poisoning are described. Case 1, a man, aged 40 years, swallowed for suicidal purposes about 50 digitalis tablets, each containing 50 mg standardized digitalis leaf, digitalis purpurea (0.5 i.u.). Death occured about 8 hours after the intake. A quantitative determination of digitalis glycoside in the gastric contents, and in the contents of the small intestine, blood and heart was performed with xanthydrol. Case 2, a child, 11 days old, because of a congenital heart disease was treated with digoxin. 1/2‐1 hour before death the child was given 0.7 mg digoxin intravenously. A quantitative determination of digoxin was performed with xanthydrol in the liver, heart and lung and by the fluorometric method in the liver, heart, kidney, urine and blood.