Mercurial diuresis in edematous individuals.

T HE effect of mercurial diuretics on the renal excretion of electrolytes has been thoroughly investigated in the dog and in the normal man.'-4 The electrolyte losses in the edematous patient, however, have been studied less extensively.4-7 There is general agreement that in both the normal individual. and in the edematous patient the diuresis is predominantly one of sodium and chloride. There is also agreement that potassium excretion is not increased in normal individuals while in the edematous patient an examination of the reported data reveals potassium loss of varying magnitude.4 5 The present study was designed to extend the information concerning the relative losses of sodium, potassium and chloride following administration of a mercurial diuretic in edematous patients and to assess the changes in body fluid compartments resulting from these losses.