ACIDOSIS 349 



that acidity blocks, as it were, the electrical discharge 

 from the brain, which constitutes the principal attri- 

 bute of life itself. 



The respiratory rate is governed by the changes in 

 the H-ion concentration of the blood, which result 

 from energy transformation in the body; the pulse 

 rate provided local organs are normal and also the 

 temperature vary with the respiratory rate. We know 

 that certain diseases are caused by failure of the organ- 

 ism to eliminate acid by-products. Bearing these facts 

 .in mind, let us examine the phenomena of several forms 

 of activation. In great exertion the characteristic phe- 

 nomena are rapid respiration, rapid pulse, sweating, 

 redness of the skin, thirst and a progressive exhaus- 

 tion. In the great emotions, emotions sufficiently in- 

 tense to overwhelm the individual, the characteristic 

 phenomena are the same rapid pulse, sweating, 

 flushing, thirst and exhaustion. These two normal 

 states closely resemble each other. Do they in turn 

 resemble the phenomena of certain pathological 

 states ? 



Note the phenomena of fever. In the infections the 

 leading symptoms are increased respiration, increased 

 pulse rate, sweating, flushed face, thirst and exhaus- 

 tion. In Graves' disease the leading symptoms are 

 the same. Thus four comprehensive and typical 

 conditions exertion, emotion, infection and Graves' 

 disease have certain phenomena in common, a fact 

 which strongly suggests that these phenomena result in 

 a large measure, at least, from the physical and chemical 

 work involved in the elimination of acid by-products. 

 (Fig. 85.) 



