NCJ Number
11672
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1973) Pages: 167-172
Date Published
1973
Length
6 pages
Annotation
EXPERIMENTAL DEMONSTRATION OF THE CARDIOTOXIC EFFECTS OF RAPIDLY ADMINISTERED, INTRAVENOUS INJECTIONS OF QUININE HYDROCHLORIDE IN RATS.
Abstract
IT WAS SHOWN THAT RATS SUFFER SLOWING AND CESSATION OF THE HEARTBEAT WITHIN SECONDS FOLLOWING RAPID INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF QUININE HYDROCHLORIDE. HYPERACUTE DEATH DUE TO INTRAVENOUS NARCOTISM IS DEFINED AS IMMEDIATE COLLAPSE FOLLOWED BY DEATH WITHIN A FEW MINUTES AFTER INTRAVENOUS INJECTION OF AN ILLICIT NARCOTIC. THE AUTHORS STATE THAT THEIR INVESTIGATION INCRIMINATES THE CARDIOTOXIC PROPERTIES OF QUININE AS ONE OF THE MECHANISMS WHICH MAY PRECIPITATE SUCH HYPERACUTE DEATHS, SINCE QUININE IS USED COMMONLY AS AN ADULTERANT FOR ILLICIT NARCOTICS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)