MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three groups of male patients were studied. Group I-eight patients served as controls andwere in the hos-pital for diseases that did not affect kidney function. Four were convalescent from peptic ulcer, one was con-valescent from lobar pneumonia, two had chronic myelo-genous leukemia, and one had a carcinoma of the thyroid. Group II-eight patients with heart disease comprised this group; six had arteriosclerotic, andtwo rheumatic heart disease. All had been edematous in the past but were maintained free from edemaat the time of the study on a regimen which included digitalization, a low sodium diet and frequent use of mercurial diuretics. Diuretics were omitted on the days on which urinewas collected. Group III-13 patients with cirrhosis of the liver, who had ascites or who had had ascites in the recent past were investigated. Four of these were re-studied later on a dietary program which consisted of 300 ml. of milk given at intervals of four hours throughout the day and night.