UNUSUAL CASE OF BARBITAL POISONING WITH RECOVERY

The clinical fatal dose of barbital has been stated to be about 10 Gm. The toxic manifestations of overdosage are predominantly depression, with fall of blood pressure, increase or loss of reflexes and reduction in temperature and coma. The following case, from the private practice of one of us (D. K. C), shows the possibility of recovery from a considerably larger dose, after a protracted period of coma. It illustrates an often overlooked fact that barbital may sometimes cause a marked febrile response rather than the classic depression of temperature. L. M. S., a man, aged 22, Chinese, weighing 120 pounds (54 Kg.), being despondent over failure to pass examinations, swallowed thirty-six 7½ grain tablets of sodium barbital, a total dose of 270 grains (18 Gm.). He was found in deep coma twelve hours later and brought to the hospital. No vomiting had occurred, and the stomach