822 
DE. SMITH ON THE ELIMINATION 
of retarding the elimination of urea for one or two days ; but on the third day this power 
ceased. The same was observed of other changes of diet, as, for example, the omission 
of salt and the addition of fat, — the former causing a diminution of 26 grs. from the 
amount on the treadwheel day (when only 10 grs. had been added by the treadwheel 
day), and the latter a loss of 6 grs., although it was a treadwheel day. The increase 
with the salt, fat, and coffee occurred on the second day ; but with tea and alcohol it 
was deferred until the third day, and even then the normal quantity of urine was not 
restored Avith the alcohol. 
There was no disturbance of the health during these investigations, except that 
No. 1040 was once purged with the coffee; and with the alcohol all complained of 
being lazy at their work and thirsty, and they noticed that they passed less urine and 
slept more profoundly. 
Chloride of Sodium. 
Abstinence from the use of chloride of sodium was found by Wundt to diminish the 
quantity of urinary water, and to lessen the amount of chloride of sodium excreted with 
it progressively through a period of five days. 
The rate of excretion of chloride of sodium, when three-quarters of an ounce was 
allowed daily besides that which was contained in the bread and gruel, was, on the 
average of all the cases, 506 grs. daily. When only that was allowed which was con- 
tained in the bread and gruel, the daily emission was reduced to 184 grs. On renewing 
the full quantity, and adding 3^ oz. of extra fat, the rate increased to 419 grs. daily, 
which was a less quantity than that which was recorded when the supply of salt had 
long been unlimited. The quantity was increased 123 grs. daily under the use of tea, 
and then fell 48 grs. daily with coffee ; and a further loss of 142 grs. daily occurred with 
the alcohol. 
The average elimination under these different conditions was as follows : — 
Tabl'd XLIIl. 
Unlimited 
supply. 
1 oz. less 
supplied. 
Full supply, 
extra fat. 
Full supply, 
tea. 
Full supply, 
coffee. 
Full supply, 
alcohol. 
Chloride of Sodium ... 
grs. daily. 
506 
grs. daily. 
184 
grs. daily. 
419 
grs. daily. 
542 
grs. daily. 
494 
grs. daily. 
352 
The veiy large supply and elimination of chloride of sodium in prisoners is remark- 
able, the elimination under ordinary conditions being nearly equal to that of urea. 
The diminution in the excretion, when the supply had been lessened by three-quarters 
of an ounce, was almost identical with the diminution of the supply. Thus the loss was 
322 grs., and the diminution in the supply was 328 grs. As the lessened elimination 
during the experiment with extra fat immediately followed the last experiment, it may 
perhaps be doubted whether some portion of the salt supplied had not been retained, to 
meet the deficiency previously existing ; but the increase with tea and coffee, and par- 
