Abstract
The actual procedures used in the treatment of 153 cases of diarrhea with potassium chloride in addition to the other established therapeutic methods are described. The mortality was 6% and study of the fatal cases indicated that a large proportion of these cases apparently died from nutritional injury developing before the onset of the diarrhea or from injury as a result of dehydration developing before treatment was started. The serum bicarbonate returns to normal somewhat more slowly than when larger doses of sodium bicarbonate (or lactate) are given. However, the absence of alkalosis, the infrequency of low serum calcium and the infrequency of the "postacidotic state" suggest that slow restoration of the concentration of serum bicarbonate may be advantageous. In no instance was low concentration of potassium in serum encountered. On the other hand serum potassium remained normal or slightly high during recovery. In no instance were symptoms referable to potassium intoxication encountered and in no instance was death associated with high concentration of potassium in serum. The method of treatment is safe and produces results as good as have been obtained in any similar group of cases. The method is relatively simple to carry out and is equally applicable to diarrhea of the newborn and that of older infants.
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