Allan M. Butler

STUDIES OF SODIUM AND POTASSIUM METABOLISM. THE EFFECT OF POTASSIUM ON THE SODIUM AND WATER BALANCES IN NORMAL SUBJECTS AND PATIENTS WITH BRIGHT'S DISEASE

The work presented here was undertaken primarily for the purpose of ascertaining the effect of the ingestion of moderate amounts of potassium on the sodium balance of normal individuals and patients with Brights disease. It was felt that such information would be of particular significance in appraising the efficiency of potassium salts as diuretics in the treatment of nephritic edema. Potassium chloride was selected as the means of administering the potassium in order to avoid the alkaline or cathartic effects of other potassium salts. Incidentally, the experiments in supplying complete data on sodium and potassium balances and weight changes provide an opportunity for correlating sodium and potassium balances with the water balance of the body.