Robert Kapsinow

THE EFFECTS OF SALINE CATHARTICS IN CONDITIONS OF DEHYDRATION

Numerous investigations within recent years have demonstrated the importance of changes in blood concentration in various experimental and clinical conditions. It has been shown, 1 for example, that the saline purgatives produce their characteristic effect, in large measure at least, by withdrawing fluid from the blood. In view of the extensive use of saline purgatives, it is desirable to have knowledge of their effects on blood concentration in conditions associated with water deprivation. The present communication outlines the results of such an investigation. INFLUENCE OF SALINE PURGATIVES IN A CONDITION OF WATER DEPRIVATION Methods. —Normal adult female dogs were maintained without food and water during the period of experimentation. After periods of from seven to nine days, these animals were given, by stomach tube, doses of either potassium and sodium tartrate (Rochelle salt), sodium sulphate (Glaubers salt) or magnesium sulphate (Epsom salt). Hemoglobin estimations were made by the method of