Hormones and Water and Electrolyte Metabolism 87 



patient; they fluctuate violently but show no evidence of 

 premenstrual sodium retention. 



Fig. 6 shows three consecutive cycles in a patient who ex- 

 perienced quite severe premenstrual tension. In the first 



17a-oxjfprogestcrone copronote ETHISTERONE ' 

 -p-u IZSmjlM. 80 mq./doY. 50 



98 



rn.Eq./!. 



LIS 



10 20 26 

 CYCLE DAYS 



20 26 



Fig. 6. Three cycles in a woman who experienced premenstrual 



tension. For explanation see text. 



T = tension. D = dysmenorrhoea. 17a-Oxyprogesterone capronate 



was injected at the point marked [ ; ethisterone was administered 



orally in doses of 80 and 50 mg. per day where indicated. 



cycle, the Na/K ratio in the saliva, was definitely lower, due 

 to a lower sodium concentration, in the second half of the 

 cycle. An injection of 125 mg. of 17a-oxyprogesterone capron- 

 ate intramuscularly failed to affect the symptoms, but when 

 ethisterone, 80 mg. daily by mouth, was started three days 

 later the tension disappeared, in spite of the Na/K ratio 



