A Study of the Toxicity of the Salicylates Based on Clinical Statistics

This study was undertaken with the hope of clearing up some to the traditions concerning the therapeutic use of salicylates. It is believed by some clinicians that certain of the salicylates are not so toxic as others. There is also a common idea that the toxicity is different—either greater or smaller—in rheumatic fever than in other conditions. Other factors which are but vaguely understood are the relation of age, sex and race to the toxic dose of the salicylates, the influence of the dose on the occurrence of albuminuria and idiosyncrasy. For this study the clinical records of the medical wards of Lakeside Hospital were made available through the courtesy of the medical staff and hospital officials. All of these records have been systematically kept practically since the establishment of the hospital. The fact that they were kept with no definite aim for such an investigation as this helps