Dec. ay, 191S 



Diuresis and Milk Flow 



563 



to make the data ser\'e their purpose. Furthermore, the urine was so 

 strongly alkaUne in reaction that from all appearances of the vulva a 

 marked irritation of the urinary tract had resulted. Obviously sodium 

 acetate was not a good diuretic to use for the solution of the problem at 

 hand. Later some success was obtained with the use of sodium citrate, 

 which with goat 2 upon the administration of 40 gm. in two portions 

 increased the urinary volume from 170 to 550 c. c. and decreased the flow 

 of milk from a volume of 395 to 350 c. c. Its use was not continued. 



It was suggested that with the now well-known diuretic properties of 

 the methyl purins, theocin might be a suitable agent. It was admin- 

 istered per OS to gpat i in gelatin capsules in two doses daily during a 

 9-day period, during which the daily dose was gradually increased 

 to 600 mgm. Inasmuch as the dose for man ordinarily is given at 

 200 to 400 mgm., it must have been large enough; yet at no time was a 

 diuretic effect noticed. Whether this is due to the difficulty of absorp- 

 tion with the ruminant was not determined, but at any rate during 

 rumination the bitter taste of the regurgitated theocin destroyed the 

 appetite, of the animal to such an extent that even if it should have been 

 effective in larger doses its continued administration was out of the 

 question. 



Urea was used next and with good results when given in large doses, 

 as shown in Table II. 



Table II. — Effect of urea on milk flow of goat i 



Dec. 19 

 20 

 21 

 22 



23 

 24 



25 

 26 



27 

 28 

 29 

 30 

 31 



No additions to ration. 



Do. 

 Collection from 50 gm. of urea. 

 No additions to ration. 



Do. 

 Collection from 30 gm. of urea. 

 No additions to ration . 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



" Little casein consumed; its feeding was discontinued from here on. 



Urea when given in diuretic doses decreases the volume of milk secreted 

 from 18 to 35 per cent, as seen in Table II. The diuresis in each case 

 is followed by a period of one day in which the daily consumption of 

 water is higher than normal, which suggests that the decreased flow of 

 milk is caused by the withdrawal of body fluids from the mammary gland 

 in an attempt of the animal to free its system of the diuretic. Compen- 

 sation evidently is not immediately efifected by the imbibition of sufficient 

 water, and the body secretions are made to suffer as the result. 



