THE EFFECT OF A SOLUTION OF ACACIA IN RESTORING DIMINISHED BODY FLUID

Abstract

Intravenous injection of a volume of 6% solution of acacia equal to 8% of the body weight of a dog (4.8 gm. acacia for each kgm. body weight [into 4 dogs]) did not cause manifestations of toxicity and resulted in secretion of practically the same volume of urine as injection of a similar quantity of 0.8% solution of NaCl [into 2 dogs], but the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood remained decreased for at least 3 days. After dehydration of dogs by intravenous injection of concentrated solutions of sugar [14 experiments], the largest amount of acacia injected without evidence of toxicity was 1.9 gm. for each kgm. body weight. Amounts of 4.8 gm. for each kgm. of body weight caused death. [In 5 experiments] dogs were dehydrated also by intravenous injection of sugars dissolved in solution of acacia. Except when the quantity of 1 or the other substance was great, the results were not noticeably different from those obtained when solution of sugar alone was used for dehydration. After loss by hemorrhage of approximately 50% of the total amount of blood in the body the fluid lost could not be restored with isotonic solution of NaCl or of solution of dextrose, and the animals died. However, solution of acacia restored the blood volume and the animals remained well, although the concentration of hemoglobin was greatly reduced. The volume of urine secreted in 22 hrs. was greater than the volume of solution of acacia injected. The general results of these experiments indicate that solution of acacia has the property of holding the injected fluid in the circulation for a considerable period. It does not inhibit renal excretion of water. There is evidence that under certain conditions acacia not only holds water in the blood, but at the same time favors renal excretion of water of extra-vascular origin.