Metabolic studies on N-methylpyridinium-2-aldoxime—I

N-methylpyridinium-2-aldoxime methanesulphonate (P2S) was administered to rats and the urinary excretion of thiocyanate was determined by different methods. In addition to a small increase in thiocyanate excretion a metabolite was found which interfered with one of the test methods. It was concluded that formation of cyanide could not account for the toxicity of the oxime. Similar experiments on human beings showed no significant increase in thiocyanate excretion, but small amounts of an unknown metabolite were formed.