MULTIPLE CUTANEOUS EFFECTS OF POTASSIUM SULFOCYANATE: Report of a Case

In 1903 Pauli suggested the use of sodium or potassium sulfocyanate in the treatment of hypertension. Since then, several observers (including Baker and Brunsting,¹ in 1937; Wald, Lindberg and Barker,² in 1939; Barker, Lindberg and Wald,³ in 1941; Russell and Stahl,⁴ in 1942; Forster,⁵ in 1943; Petersen,⁶ in 1943; Rawson, Hertz and Means,⁷ in the same year; Koffler and Freireich,⁸ in 1944; Hines,⁹ in 1946) have warned of toxic effects which may be caused by these drugs. As a matter of fact, in 1929,¹⁰ and again in 1942,¹¹ the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry of the American Medical Association condemned the use of the cyanates.

REPORT OF CASE  Mrs. C. C. an American housewife aged 50, was placed under treatment with potassium sulfocyanate in January 1947, because of severe hypertensive disease. The daily dose was started at 3 grains