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Chronic salicylate intoxication represents an unappreciated form of self-poisoning in the elderly and therefore poses a diagnostic challenge. This report describes an elderly female with chronic salicylism who presented with unexplained delirium, dysarthria, diminished short-term memory and hearing, and urinary and fecal incontinence. She was treated with intravenous hydration, urinary alkalinization, and subsequent hemodialysis for persistent aciduria, acidemia and impending circulatory collapse. Major morbidity included myocardial infarction, life-threatening dysrhythmias, and mixed bacterial urosepsis. This report highlights the need to maintain a high index of suspicion for salicylate poisoning in the elderly, who commonly present with nonfocal neurologic features.

Three Slovak Merino sheep, weighing 38, 40 and 41 kg, were given single doses of 1500, 2700 or 3000 mg supermethrin/kg body weight. Clinical signs of intoxication were observed, and after death or sacrifice free cyanide levels were determined in the rumen contents and liver. The sheep that received 3000 mg supermethrin/kg had 7.2 and 0.58 mg cyanide/kg in the rumen contents and liver, respectively; the sheep that received 2700 mg supermethrin/kg had 5.8 and 0.52 mg cyanide/kg in the rumen contents and liver, respectively; whereas the sheep given 1500 mg supermethrin/kg had no free cyanide detected in the rumen contents or liver.