Scientific Proceedings. 



(235) 6 5 



4 1 ( I 33)- " The Influence of Subcutaneous Injections of Dex- 

 trose upon Nitrogenous Metabolism " : FRANK P. UNDER- 

 HILL and OLIVER E. CLOSSON. (Presented by WILLIAM 

 J. GIES.) 



It has been frequently assumed that the large quantity of sugar 

 present in the body in the condition of diabetes is responsible in 

 part for some of the characteristic symptoms noted. For example, 

 it has been asserted that various acids or acid derivatives may be 

 formed giving rise to the condition of acidosis, as indicated by the 

 well-known increased output of ammonia by diabetics. What 

 influence the large quantity of sugar may have upon the distribu- 

 tion of nitrogen in the urine has received but scanty attention, 

 especially with accurate methods. 



Recently Scott (J. Physiol., 18, p. 107) has attempted to imi- 

 tate the condition which obtains in diabetes by injecting into dogs 

 large quantities (seven grams per kilo) of dextrose subcutaneously, 

 and has made a study of the distribution of the urea, non-urea, 

 and ammonia nitrogen as compared with the distribution in the 

 normal animal. He has shown that when the above mentioned 

 quantity of dextrose is injected there is an increased protein meta- 

 bolism. Further there is probably excreted an increased output 

 of ammonia combined with an acid or acids derived from the de- 

 composition of the dextrose. There is also a diminution in the 

 proportion of nitrogen eliminated as urea and an increase in the 

 output of the non-urea nitrogen. 



It was the purpose of the present investigation to study the 

 character of this non-urea nitrogen. Accordingly the total nitro- 

 gen, urea nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, creatinin nitrogen, uric-acid 

 nitrogen, and purin nitrogen have been determined under condi- 

 tions similar to those of Scott's experiments. In harmony with 

 Scott's results, the authors found an increase in the total output of 

 nitrogen due to increased metabolism, together with an increased 

 elimination of oxalic acid. In no case, however, did they observe 

 a significant change in the proportions of the various forms of ex- 

 creted nitrogen. 



The discrepancies between the two series of results can be 

 accounted for in part by the fact that most of Scott's dogs were 

 suffering from severe cystitis due to catheterization. It is well 

 known that cystitis is sufficient to give rise to an increased excre- 



