Dec. 27, 1915 
Diuresis and Milk Flow 
563 
to make the data serve their purpose. Furthermore, the urine was so 
strongly alkaline in reaction that from all appearances of the vulva a 
marked irritation of the urinary tract had resulted. Obviously sodium 
acetate was not a good diuretic to use for the solution of the problem at 
hand. Later some success was obtained with the use of sodium citrate, 
which with goat 2 upon the administration of 40 gm. in two portions 
increased the urinary volume from 170 to 550 c. c. and decreased the flow 
of milk from a volume of 395 to 350 c. c. Its use was not continued. 
It was suggested that with the now well-known diuretic properties of 
the methyl purins, theocin might be a suitable agent. It was admin¬ 
istered per os to goat 1 in gelatin capsules in two doses daily during a 
9-day period, during which the daily dose was gradually increased 
to 600 mgm. Inasmuch as the dose for man ordinarily is given at 
200 to 400 mgm., it must have been large enough; yet at no time was a 
diuretic effect noticed. Whether this is due to the difficulty of absorp¬ 
tion with the ruminant was not determined, but at any rate during 
rumination the bitter taste of the regurgitated theocin destroyed the 
appetite of the animal to such an extent that even if it should have been 
effective in larger doses its continued administration was out of the 
question. 
Urea was used next and with good results when given in large doses,,, 
as shown in Table II. 
Tabl3 II .—Effect of urea on milk flow of goat 1 
Date. 
Water. 
Urine. 
Milk. 
Remarks. 
Dec. 19 . . 
C. c. 
2 , OOO 
C. c. 
685 
C.c. 
790 
No additions to ration. 
20. 
2 , OOO 
625 
770 
Do. 
21 a .. 
2,675 
1,925 
500 
Collection from 50 gm. of urea. 
22. 
2, 700 
600 
850 
No additions to ration. 
23 . 
2, OOO 
700 
93 ° 
Do. 
24 . 
25 . 
3,000 
2, 900 
2 , 060 
i f 160 
660 
*55 
Collection from 30 gm. of urea. 
No additions to ration. 
26. 
2,525 
1, 260 
1, 825 
780 
Do. 
27 .. 
3.285 
640 
Do. 
28. 
2 , 45 ° 
850 
786 
Do. 
29 . 
I, OOO 
460 
700 
Do. 
30 . 
2, 575 
5 °° 
755 
Do. 
31 .*. 
1,925 
625 
740 
Do. 
a Little casein consumed; its feeding was discontinued from here on. 
Urea when given in diuretic doses decreases the volume of milk secreted 
from 18 to 35 per cent, as seen in Table II. The diuresis in each case 
is followed by a period of one day in which the daily consumption of 
water is higher than normal, which suggests that the decreased flow of 
milk is caused by the withdrawal of body fluids from the mammary gland 
in an attempt of the animal to free its system of the diuretic. Compen¬ 
sation evidently is not immediately effected by the imbibition of sufficient 
water, and the body secretions are made to suffer as the result. 
