2X2 



Scientific Proceedings (115). 



indication that the kidneys are removing at least some of the ex- 

 cess alkali. A high CCVcombining capacity, however, may be 

 regarded as dangerous but not because of any change in reaction. 

 A C0 2 -capacity of 80 volumes per cent, would require an alveolar 

 C0 2 tension of only about 60 mm., at Ph = 74. An adjustment 

 of respiration to secure this would not seem to be beyond the 

 body's powers. It appears more likely that the danger is that 

 this high C0 2 -capacity is due to a retention of sodium sufficiently 

 great to disturb the normal kation equilibrium. As was indicated 

 in a previous paper, the nature of the anion appears to be of 

 significance as it affects the permeability of the tissue cells to the 

 sodium. It may be that the sodium enters the cells and so 

 poisons them or it may not enter and so bring about a change in 

 the potential difference at the cell boundary. 



The alkalosis of hyperpnea remains to be considered. Calcu- 

 lations from the figures of Collip and Backus 1 indicate that hyperp- 

 noea increased the P H of the plasma by from 0.1 to 0.4, with an 

 average of from 0.2 to 0.25, depending upon the method of cal- 

 culation. The 15 experiments give exceedingly concordant 

 results. However, there is one scource of error that may apply 

 to all and that would give too high P H values after hyperpncea. 

 After forced respiration, the usual period of holding the breath 

 may not be sufficient to bring the alveolar air into equilibrium 

 with the blood and the value for the CO2 tension may therefore 

 be too low. It is unfortunate that no determinations were made 

 of the hydrogen ion concentration nor of the C0 2 content of the 

 plasma. However, there must have been some change in reaction 

 for the character of the urine changed, becoming more alkaline in 

 spite of the diminished excretion of ammonia and increased ex- 

 cretion of phosphates. But it by no means follows that this 

 change in reaction was, per se, the cause of the tetany-like symp- 

 toms observed. The changes in the urine indicate a very decided 

 disturbance in the equilibrium between the various ions within 

 the body. 



Forced respiration, like repeated gastric lavage or pyloric 

 obstruction, is a very effective method of removing acid from the 

 body. The organism is not so well adapted to caring for this 



1 Collip, J. B., and Backus, P. L., American Journal of Physiology, 1920, li, 568. 



