Abstract

This is the case report of a 47-year-old man who swallowed a powerful commercial herbicide containing paraquat. He developed oral, oesophageal, renal, and hepatic damage and, at an earlier stage than is usual, severe pulmonary changes from which he made a satisfactory recovery. The disordered pulmonary function and production of pulmonary oedema fluid in this patient are attributed to interference with surfactant activity in the lung.