C. REID, 



149 



In neither of the above observations did the urine which was passed 

 immediately after breakfast have the highest concentration of diastase. It 

 would appear that the urine, which is secreted overnight, and which in 

 healthy individuals is secreted at the slowest rate, has the highest diastatic 

 activity, provided that factors producing polyuria were excluded. Specimens 

 of urine were obtained before and immediately after breakfast, the first 

 specimen being passed about 8 a.m. and the second about 8.45 a.m. to 

 9 a.m. The fii;st specimen included the urine secreted overnight (Table IV). 



The lower diastatic activity of the second specimen evidently depends 

 largely on the increased rate of secretion as compared with the relatively slow 

 rate of secretion of night urine. On the other hand, it was found occasionally 

 that the overnight urine had not the highest diastatic activity of specimens 

 passed during the 24 hours' period. This can be seen on reference to Tables 

 II and III. 



The diastatic activity of the individual specimens passed during the 24 

 hours varied inversely as a rule with the average hourly rate of secretion. 

 Exceptions, however, were rather frequent. 



Table V gives the type of results obtained on a day during which no food 

 or fluid was taken from 8 a.m. until evening. 



