DEINKING WATER FROM SEA WATER 



By Lt. Comdr. W. V. Consolazio, U. S. N. R. 

 Lt. N. Pace, U. S. N. R. 



and 

 A. C. Ivr, Ph. D., M. D. 



Naval Medical Research Institute 

 National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. 



[With 2 plates] 



Early in the winter of 1942 the Naval Medical Research Institute 

 became interested in the problem of prolonging survival after ship- 

 wreck. At this time the problem of procuring drinking water on life 

 rafts was in a confused state. Several methods had been developed 

 and many proposed, yet no coordinating agency existed to evaluate 

 the methods developed, or make recommendations for those proposed. 

 It was clear that in order to make progress in the problem of survival 

 an agency for coordinating the available data was necessary. Also 

 a need had arisen for answers to certain questions pertaining to the 

 practical and physiological aspects of the problem. 



The "Drinkability of Sea Water" (l) 2 was first investigated be- 

 cause factual evidence on its effects was lacking and various rumors 

 were extant. It was soon learned that sea water was not potable, 

 since greater dehydration occurred with its use than without. This 

 was due not only to the large amount of water required to excrete the 

 salts of sea water, but also to the loss of water by vomitus and diarrhea 

 which frequently followed when the sea water was consumed at a too 

 rapid rate. In fact, it was found that for every volume of sea water 

 drunk, approximately two volumes of fresh water were required to 

 prevent electrolyte imbalance in the body. 



Shortly after the experiments with the potability of sea water had 

 been completed, work was instituted to test and develop methods for 

 procuring potable water, to produce a physiological and practical 

 ration, and to provide means for the protection of survivors from the 

 elements, rain, heat, cold, sun, and sea. 



1 Reprinted by permission from United States Na\al Institute Proceedings, vol. 70, No. 8, 

 Whole No. 498, August 1944. 



s Figures in parentheses refer to bibliography at end of article. 



153 



