ACIDOSIS 351 



emotion and of violent infection, we now offer the follow- 

 ing interpretation of these phenomena. 



Whenever there is an increased transformation of 

 energy, the H-ion concentration of the blood is in- 

 creased. As shown by Du Bois, in Graves' disease there 

 is a continuous increased transformation of energy, 

 hence an increased production of acid, and, conse- 

 quently, an increased demand upon the acid neutraliz- 

 ing power of the body. 



Let us now consider the symptoms in Graves' disease 

 that may be due to acidosis in contradistinction to the 

 symptoms that may be due to the activation of the 

 kinetic system. As we have stated, H-ion concentration 

 is controlled by three agencies : first, the elimination 

 of carbon dioxid by means of the respiratory organs ; 

 second, the breaking down of the acid by-products 

 of energy transformation by the liver; and third, 

 the elimination of the acid by-products by means of 

 the kidneys and skin. In Graves' disease the continu- 

 ous excessive transformation of energy steadily reduces 

 the neutralizing bases stored in the body until acidosis 

 automatically results from the loss of neutralizing ma- 

 terial. In addition, in Graves' disease the most im- 

 portant neutralizing organ the liver is greatly 

 impaired brown atrophy. The symptoms of so- 

 called hyperthyroidism differ very little if at all from 

 the symptoms of straight acidosis. This being so, does 

 it not follow that postoperative hyperthyroidism is in 

 fact an acidosis? 



The symptoms of acidosis are increased respiration, 

 increased sweating, loss of mental and muscular power, 

 restlessness and, in extreme cases, delirium and uncon- 



