Intestinal excretion during diarrhea

Abstract

Analyses were made of the fæces of a number of patients with diarrheas of different origin. During one period of observation the patients were on the Schmidt-Strassburger diet, during a second period the diet consisted of 250 grm. sugar daily. In those cases where there was present an ulcerative process in the intestine—tuberculosis, carcinoma—the amount of nitrogen in the fæces was markedly increased—being from 1.7 to 4. grm. daily on the sugar diet. In cases of severe catarrhal inflammation it was not over 1.5 grm.; in light catarrh it was within normal limits. The fat and carbohydrate elimination showed no such striking differences although it was highest where an ulcerative condition was present. Of the inorganic constituents the alkali excretion was fairly parallel to that of nitrogen. The other inorganic constituents were increased by the ulcerative processes but in some instances were increased equally where ulcerations were absent.