[Comparative evaluation of the toxicity of potassium hydrocarbonate and potassium chloride]

The potassium hydrocarbonate and potassium chloride toxicity was compared in experiments on 113 albino rats. The death following introduction of maximal amounts of potassium chloride was noted to supervene earlier than it did in animals receiving equivalent doses of potassium hydrocarbonate. Simultaneous introduction of sodium hydrocarbonate lowered the toxicity of both potassium hydrocarbonate and chloride. Morphological investigations revealed that toxic doses of potassium hydrocarbonate bring about shifts in the carbohydrate and lipids metabolism. Some mechanisms behind the action produced potassium chloride and hydrocarbonate are discussed.