394 m'laughlin and sellards. 



However, the effect of the alkaline solution is not merely a question 

 of hypertonicity. In addition to its property of attracting fluid from 

 the tissues, it also has diuretic properties. These characteristics may 

 be of equal importance with the ionic concentration of the solution 

 in the interpretation of the treatment of collapse. A detailed report 

 of the series treated with alkali appears in the present number of the 

 Journal. 



Records of the blood pressure were of interest in connection with 

 the development of ursemia. In some cases, the blood pressure re- 

 mained about normal during the stage of reaction, urine was excreted 

 freely and recovery usually followed. However, in another class it rose 

 rapidly during the stage of reaction, the excretion of urine was limited 

 in amount or lacking altogether, and a fatal uraemia usually followed. 



In severe cases which recovered, the urine frequently diminished in 

 volume about one-half toward the end of the first week, or early in 

 the second week of a normal convalescence. This fact is of consider- 

 able importance because of the prognostic value of the output of urine. 



SUMMARY. 



1. No definite differences for the two concentrations of salt solu- 

 tion which were tested for treatment, were observed, either upon the 

 course of the disease or in its final termination. 



2. Measurements of the blood pressure were of some service in deter- 

 mining the frequency with which repetitions of the injections of salt 

 solution should be given. 



In considering these results and conclusions, it is important to em- 

 phasize the severity of the cases under observation. The patients were 

 often admitted to the hospital in complete collapse and, perhaps, were 

 not particularly suited for such an investigation, since in many in- 

 stances the beneficial effects following the usual treatment with ordinary 

 salt solution were not obtained. Also, the total number of cases (61) 

 was small and observations upon a larger series of patients under 

 more favorable conditions might possibly give greater differences in 

 the effect of the various concentrations of salt solution. 



