Abstract：
Little is known about how pharmacological and toxicological knowledge evolves. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the presentation of the poison hydrogen cyanide in sixteen German-language pharmacology and toxicology textbooks from 1878 to 2020. The categories of structure, molecular mechanism of action, occurrence, effects, resorption, areas of application, lethal dose, acute symptoms of intoxication, treatment of hydrogen cyanide poisoning, and recommended therapeutic preparations were evaluated. The knowledge on the structure, lethal dosage, and occurrence of hydrogen cyanide has remained constant. In contrast, knowledge on molecular mechanism of action and recommended preparations of the poison has changed dramatically. Until 1944, the binding of hydrogen cyanide to hemoglobin was considered the mechanism of action, whereas from 1951 onwards, the interaction of hydrogen cyanide with the Fe3+ of cytochrome oxidase was described. The number of preparations containing hydrogen cyanide decreased into obsolescence until 1951. The areas of application of hydrogen cyanide also show a change, as from 1919 onwards, mainly industrial areas of application of the poison are described instead of medical ones, and from 1951 onwards, criminalistic areas of application are also mentioned. Thus, pharmacological and toxicological knowledge develops non-linearly, molecular mechanism and uses being the most dynamic areas, whereas the knowledge about hydrogen cyanide\'s chemical structure, lethal dose, and occurrence remained constant. Older pharmacology and toxicology textbooks were better than newer ones at discussing changes in scientific concepts. Pharmacology and toxicology textbooks also mostly failed to discuss the misuse of hydrogen cyanide (Zyklon B) during the Nazi regime, missing an important opportunity to showcase the ethical responsibility of pharmacology and toxicology. Thus, future pharmacology and toxicology textbooks should improve on discussing the development of pharmacological and toxicological concepts and the ethical responsibility of the discipline.
摘要：
人们对药理学和毒理学知识的发展知之甚少。这项研究的目的是调查1878年至2020年16种德语药理学和毒理学教科书中氰化氢毒物的表达变化。结构的类别，分子作用机制，发生,影响,再吸收,应用领域,致死剂量,中毒的急性症状，氰化氢中毒的治疗，和推荐的治疗制剂进行了评估。关于结构的知识，致死剂量,氰化氢的出现保持不变。相比之下,有关分子作用机理和推荐的毒药制剂的知识发生了巨大变化。直到1944年，氰化氢与血红蛋白的结合被认为是作用机制，而从1951年开始，描述了氰化氢与细胞色素氧化酶Fe3的相互作用。直到1951年，含氰化氢的制剂数量才逐渐过时。氰化氢的应用领域也出现了变化，从1919年起,主要描述了毒药的工业应用领域，而不是医疗领域，从1951年起,还提到了刑事适用领域。因此，药理学和毒理学知识非线性发展，分子机制和用途是最具活力的领域，而有关氰化氢化学结构的知识，致死剂量,和事件保持不变。在讨论科学概念的变化时，较旧的药理学和毒理学教科书比较新的教科书更好。药理学和毒理学教科书也大多未能讨论纳粹政权期间氰化氢（ZyklonB）的滥用，错过了一个重要的机会来展示药理学和毒理学的伦理责任。因此，未来的药理学和毒理学教科书应在讨论药理学和毒理学概念的发展以及学科的伦理责任方面进行改进。
