CARBON TETRACHLORIDE POISONING

L. W. McGUIRE

Journal of the American Medical Association · 1932 · 47 citations · 1 references

Concepts

Abstract

Carbon tetrachloride is used in industry as a solvent for gums, resins and fats; it is used as a dry cleanser and is a constituent of some of the rubber elements; it is used also to clean oil from machinery and, under the name of pyrene, as a fire extinguisher.<sup>1</sup>In medicine it is used as a vermifuge in the treatment of ankylostomiasis. Cases of poisoning have been reported from time to time. I have recently observed seven men who were affected by it, simultaneously, in a small plant where it was used as a solvent for cleaning. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl<sub>4</sub>) is a colorless, transparent liquid, like chloroform. It is insoluble in water and glycerin and is miscible with chloroform, alcohol and benzene. It is soluble in all fixed and volatile oils. It is volatile at ordinary temperatures but noninflammable. Investigations as to the toxicity of carbon tetrachloride

References

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