PROLONGATION OF THE LIFE OF NEPHRECTOMIZED DOGS

Abstract

The object of this research was to determine by what means life could be prolonged most effectively following double nephrectomy and to study the effect of these methods on the blood chemistry and resulting symptoms. Vicarious elimination has been suggested as the means by which substances usually eliminated by the kidneys may be secreted or excreted by the stomach, intestines, saliva, sweat and lungs.¹ Working on the theory that stimulation of those processes and organs which carry on vicarious elimination would result in a decreased retention of nitrogenous waste products and would prevent the absorption of toxic products from the intestines and thus prolong life, we studied the effects on nephrectomized dogs of procedures designed to increase the secretory and excretory activity of the gastro-intestinal tract. Brown-Séquard, in 1889, published his theory on internal secretions, in which the kidney was included as one of the organs of internal secretion, ascribing