Urinalysis in dehydration fever.

JOHN THOMSON, M.D., D.P.H., D.C.H. (From the Department of Child Life and Health, University of Edinburgh) Introduction In the course of carrying out a series of observations on renal output and the composition of the urine in the newborn period, two cases of dehydration fever were observed. The observations recorded in these two cases deviate so far from the normal, Thomson (1944), that their separate recording is desirable. Case Records Baby M.-Baby M. was born spontaneously at 1.45 p.m. and weighed 9 lb. 2j oz. It was the first baby of a young mother aged 22 years. The weight curve was within normal limits and the number of stools passed was not excessive. Under test feeding conditions the baby was put three times to the breast in the first twenty-four.hours, but it obtained no measurable amount of fluid. During this period two separate half-ounce feeds of 5 per cent. glucose in normal saline were given at 12 midnight and 6 a.m. Subsequently the baby was put to the breast at three-hourly intervals, always under test feeding conditions, and was given no further extra fluids except one ounce of sterile water at 3 p.m. during its fourth twenty-four-hour period. A record of the test feeds was kept (table l).