108 Mineral Loss during Acidosis 
feeding, 6,581 cc. of mineral acid and 7,493 cc. of base were ex- 
creted; that is, an excess of 912 cc. of base for the neutralization 
of organic acid. The sum of the titratable acid (550 cc.) and the 
excess of base excreted (912 cc.) is 1,462 cc., which is the amount 
of organic acid excreted during the 3 days of this period. 
R. W. was less susceptible to the change in diet. The excretion 
of nitrogen, minerals (except calcium), creatine, and titratable 
acid was increased, but not to the same extent as in the former 
child. During the normal period 6,033 cc. of acid and 5,970 ce. 
of base were excreted; that is, 63 cc. of acid in excess of base. 
The titratable acid of the urine (310 cc.) minus the excess of 
mineral acid (63 cc.) leaves 247 cc. for the organic acid elimina- 
tion. During the high fat period 6,681 cc. of acid and 6,806 ce. 
of base were excreted. ‘The titratable acid of the urine (885 cc.) 
plus the excess of base over mineral acid excretion (125 ec.) makes 
510 cc., which is the organic acid excretion for this period. The 
values of the plasma carbonates for the high fat periods were in 
keeping with the urinary findings. Under similar conditions, 
C. G., the more responsive case, showed a lowering of the car- 
bonate value amounting to 21 volume per cent, whereas R. W.’s 
plasma carbonates decreased by 12 volume per cent.? 
The increased elimination of nitrogen during the periods of 
high fat feeding may possibly be ascribed to an accelerated rate 
of conversion of protein into carbohydrate. The ammonia in the 
urine of the more responsive case accounts for but 10 per cent of 
the excess nitrogen eliminated. The ratio of sulfur to nitrogen 
lost is about 1:17 and 1: 21 respectively. 
If we assumed that the lost nitrogen was derived from muscle 
exclusively, then in the case of C. G. about 320 gm. of muscle 
tissue would have been catabolized. The minerals contained 
therein would be entirely inadequate to account for the cal- 
clum, magnesium, and phosphorus losses. One naturally asso- 
ciates this trio of elements with bone and it is not unlikely that 
they were derived from this source. The excess of calcium 
which was excreted during the period of high fat feeding served 
8 The variation in the response of children to acid-producing diets is 
marked. We have recorded observations concerning this point on a 
larger series of children in a forthcoming number of the Am. J. Dis. 
Child. 
