THE SODIUM CONTENT OF THE BLOOD OF THE DOG AFTER EXPERIMENTAL INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION

Sodium determinations on the blood of ten dogs after experimental obstruction of the jejunum are reported. The average sodium content of the plasma of the normal dog is 336 mg. per 100 cc. There is relatively little change in the sodium content of the blood plasma after the intestine is obstructed, even with marked changes in the chloride and bicarbonate. The whole blood sodium tends to rise after intestinal obstruction. The increase in bicarbonate ions does not fully compensate for the decrease in chloride ions. After intestinal obstruction there is a larger amount of sodium in some unknown combination than in the normal dog. These findings throw no definite light on the mechanism of the increased protein destruction characteristic of intestinal obstruction.