Five cases of methemoglobinemia resulting from the accidental substitution of sodium nitrite for potassium citrate in the gavage mixture given to terminate insulin coma treatment are recorded. The simple and efficacious treatment by intravenous injection of methylene blue is presented.It is speculated that further research might show that the intentional production of methemoglobinemia in nonhypoglycemic subjects would be a safe and useful method of treatment in schizophrenia.
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