REPORT OF A CASE OF DIABETES INSIPIDUS WITH MARKED REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF URINE FOLLOWING LUMBAR PUNCTURE

Abstract

This case of diabetes insipidus is reported because of the remarkable effect of lumbar puncture in diminishing the amount of urine and raising its specific gravity. A man of 43 had for four years the typical manifestations of diabetes insipidus. The urine varied in amount from 7,500 to 11,000 c.c., and was always of low specific gravity (1.001). Lumbar puncture was made and less than 5 c.c. of fluid withdrawn, the fluid escaping slowly under low pressure. Within forty-eight hours the daily amount of urine had dropped to 660 c.c. Headache, pain in the back of the neck, anorexia and vomiting, with a feeling of general weakness, followed the puncture. Morphin was given for pain. Almost no fluid or food was taken for three or four days. But after the prostration following the puncture had disappeared, when morphin was stopped, and when food and water were freely taken, there was