788 
DE. SMITH ON THE ELIMINATION 
B. Wit/i variations in the ordinary dietary. 
Fasting . — Mosler, Becher, Bocker, Falck, and Ferber found that when water was 
administered during fasting for short periods, the evolution of urea and urinary water 
was considerably increased, but afterwards the former fell below the normal amount. 
The increase in the elimination of water occurred in the second or third hour, and the 
increase in the quantity of urinary water was greater than the increase in the quantity 
of Avater supplied. 
In October 1860 I fasted during 29^ hours from supper-time, and took 30 ounces of 
water only at about the ordinary meal hours, viz. 8^ A.M., 12^, 5^, and 9 p.m., and deter- 
mined the hourly excretion of urea and urinary water during the day. The results are 
gh’en in the following Table, and delineated in Plate XXXIV. fig. 3. 
Table XVIII. — ShoAving the Hourly Bate of Elimination of Urea and Urinary Water 
during fasting, but with water. 
A.M. 
r.M, 
AVater. 
Water. 
Water. Water. 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
8| 
2i 
gl’S. 
grs. 
grs. 
grs. 
grs. 
grs. 
gl’S. 
grs. 
grs. 
grs. 
grs. 
grs. 
Urea ... 
7-79 
20-48 
34-5 
20-8 
17*85 
18-72 
15-6 
14 
13-5 
5-3 
21-6 
7*49 
fl. oz. 
fl. oz. 
fl. oz. 
fl. oz. 
fl. oz. 
fl. oz. 
fl. oz. 
fl. oz. 
fl. oz. 
fl. oz. 
fl. oz. 
fl. oz. 
Urine ... 
•812 
3-2 
11-5 
6-94 
7*44 
5-2 
10-4 
2-93 
2-5 
1-36 
2-57 
1*39 
The progression in the rate of elimination of urea and water was precisely the same 
as when ordinary food was taken, and the only evident variation was the' rapidity with 
which the increase and decrease was effected. After the last meal, the night rate of 
emission of urea was less than 8 grs. per hour ; but after taking ten ounces of water it 
rapidly increased to 34‘5 grs. per hour, and subsequently rose after every administration 
of water, and fell before the period arrived for the subsequent supply. The lowest 
rate of the day occurred at 5 p.m. ; and the two highest followed the breakfast and the 
tea houi’s. It is singular to notice that there was very little increase folloAving the 
administration of water at the dinner-hour ; and in this respect also it corresponds Avith 
the amount evolved after an ordinary dinner. 
The urinaiy water was also largely increased after every dose of water, so that the 
maximum rate was fourteen times greater than the basis quantity ; and a decrease always 
preceded the following supply. Hence the simple administration of water at different 
periods of the day causes a series of defined curves of increase and decrease of the 
urinary secretion and of urea. The average hourly rate of elimination of urea from 
8^ A.M. until 2-|- A.M. without any food having been taken was 15 T grs. 
Water only . — On various occasions I drank water or other fluids in the morning, and 
abstained from food until midday, with a view to determine their influence at the period 
of the day when the urinary secretion is the most abundant. 
The following Table and Plate XXXIV. fig. 6 contains the results of drinking ten 
