Effect of Age on the Body's Tolerance 149 



may encounter in young infants and in patients undergoing 

 the stress of anaesthesia and surgery. As the columns show, 

 the percentage gains to be expected for infants are approxi- 

 mately twice as great as those to be expected for adults. 

 While the gains indicated for adults are borderline as regards 

 toxicity, those shown for infants are large enough to produce 

 distressing manifestations. 



In summary, an attempt has been made to indicate in 

 approximate terms the limits of capacity of the body to adjust 

 output of water and certain other substances in accordance 

 with homeostatic needs, and to illustrate the clinical implica- 

 tions of such knowledge. 



These thoughts are presented in the hope that they may 

 elicit constructive suggestions concerning these highly signi- 

 ficant, yet rather elusive phenomena. 



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