THE INGESTION OF SEA WATER AS A MEANS OF ATTENUATING FRESH WATER RATIONS

Abstract

Though the drinking of undiluted sea water by the castaway has been shown to be dangerous, there have been few studies on the use of sea water diluted with fresh water. The experiment was designed to permit a statistical evaluation of relative gain or relative loss in body weights to human subjects, from drinking a daily supplement of sea water. The addition of 10 oz. of sea water to the daily ration of 16 oz. of fresh water resulted in a mean (corrected) weight saving of 2.24 lb. over a period of six days. This result was significant. That this relative gain in weight was beneficial is supported by the subjects' unanimous opinion to this effect, by the specific gravities of blood and urine, and by the figures for blood and urine electrolytes in control and experimental subjects.