168 FRANKLIN C. McLEAN 



TABLE VIII 



ANALYSES OF BLOOD AND EDEMA FLUID IN WAR-EDEMA 

 (Falta and Quittner) 



War-Edema, after administration of NaHCO^, at height of edema. 



Blood 



. Red cells, 3,120,000 per c.mm. 

 Hemoglobin, 74% 



Non-prpteiri nitrogen, 17 mg. per 100 c.c. 

 Uric acid, 1.74 mg. per 100 c.c. 

 Creatinin, 1.04 mg. per 100 c.c. 

 Sugar, 0.0614% 

 Freezing point, 0.58 C. 



Blood serum 



Total ash, 0.714% 

 NaCl, 0.61% 



Edema fluid, obtained by subcutaneous puncture 

 Protein nitrogen, 16 mg. per 100 c.c. 

 Non-protein nitrogen, 10 mg. per 100 c.c. 

 Uric acid, negative 

 Freezing point, 0.60 C. 

 NaCl, 0.92%, 1.05%, 0.94% (3 samples) 



War-Edema, urithout NaHC0 3 



Edema fluid, obtained by subcutaneous puncture 

 Protein nitrogen, 14 mg. per 100 c.c. 

 Non-protein nitrogen, 12 mg. per 100 c.c. 

 Uric acid, trace 

 Sugar, 0.0654% 

 Freezing point, 0.57 C. 

 Total ash, 0.814% 

 NaCl, 0.80% 



The Role of the Thyroid in Edema. Eppinger(d), impressed by the 

 diuretic action and apparent curative properties of thyroid extract, at least 

 in certain forms of edema, undertook a study of the mode of action of thy- 

 roid extract in relation to lymph production and to edema. He found in 

 normal individuals, and by animal experimentation, that giving thyroid 

 extract appears to have the specific effect of diminishing the ability of 

 the cells to hold water and salt, so that these substances return to the blood 

 and are excreted at an increased rate. He found no direct effect of thyroid 

 extract on the function of the kidneys. On the other hand, extirpation of 

 the thyroid gland resulted in increased storing of water and salts in the 

 tissue and consequent slowing of the rate of excretion. 



In the therapeutic use of thyroid extract striking results were obtained 

 in cases of edema in chronic parenchymatous nephritis, in chronic diffuse 

 nephritis with degenerative changes, and in cases of myocardial insuf- 

 ficiency in which there was disproportion between the severity of edema 

 and other objective findings. No effect was noted in ascites in cirrhosis 

 of the liver. Certain cases of edema, clinically similar to those in which 

 good results were obtained failed, without apparent reason, to respond 

 to this form of therapy. 



