The Effects of Certain Drugs and 

 Poisons upon the Metabolism 



HENRY G. BARBOUR 



McGILL UNIVERSITY, MONTBEAL 



I. Water and Salts 



Water taken in excess of demand is promptly eliminated from the 

 body, but its removal may alter the mineral balance or disturb the relative 

 proportions of the ions. The metabolic changes may include a temporary 

 increase in the urinary nitrogen, due apparently not only to "flushing," 

 but also to some extra protein breakdown (Hawk). 



The effects of water in moderate amounts upon the total metabolism 

 were first investigated by Bidder and Schmidt (1852), who reported them 

 negligible, and F. G. Benedict employing highly perfected technique has 

 recently shown that normal adults may ingest 500 c.c. of water at room 

 temperature without altering the basal metabolism. Larger amounts may 

 prove stimulating, but 200 c.c. of water given per os did not alter the 

 metabolism of Lusk's 9.3 kilo dog. 



Such water ingestion in health does not affect the body temperature. 



Large amounts of water taken with proteins and fats do not influence 

 the absorption of the latter from the alimentary canal (Edsall). 



Deficiency of Water. Water deprivation as well as excess results 

 in an increased protein destruction; the excess metabolites do not, how- 

 ever, appear in the urine until its checked flow has been restored by re- 

 newed intake of fluid. (Straub.) 



An adequate water content of the blood is so essential to the various 

 processes of heat elimination that any considerable dehydration of the 

 body (because of the diminished blood volume) results in fever. Salt 

 fever (see below) has been thus explained by Balcar, Sansum, and Wood- 

 yatt, who themselves produced extraordinary temperature elevations in 

 dogs by dextrose dehydration (in one case 125 F. was observed!). Con- 

 versely water often serves as an antipyretic agent. The fever of the new- 

 born, formerly accepted as physiological, can be prevented entirely by an 

 occasional spoonful of water. 



The effects of water deficiency are further discussed in connection 

 with salt action. 



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