THE FATAL TOXIC MANIFESTATIONS OF THE THIOCYANATES

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to draw attention to the fatal toxic manifestations of the thiocyanates. Ever since the first pharmacologic investigation of the thiocyanates in 1857 by Claude Bernard¹there have been numerous references to the toxic properties of this drug. However, the observations of Pauli²in 1903 that thiocyanates were effective in reducing high blood pressure caused the use of the drug to gain favor. Untoward symptoms occurred so frequently, however, that the drug fell into disrepute until it was reintroduced in the treatment of hypertension by Westphal³in 1925. Since that time some investigators have felt that the thiocyanates were valuable drugs;⁴others have felt that they were not only useless but dangerous.⁵ The published work of others and personal observations would indicate that in many instances the continued administration of thiocyanates leads to lowering of the blood pressure. There is