Summary(1) Sweat sodium concentrations were determined by a method applicable to sick patients confined to bed. (2) Congestive heart failure patients were studied while retaining edema fluid, before and after mercuhydrin injection, and, in a few instances, when recompensated. There was no evidence that increased adrenal electrolyte hormone activity contributed to the sodium retention of heart failure. The mean sweat sodium concentration of one group of congestive failure patients was significantly higher than that of the controls. (3) Mercuhydrin did not affect sweat sodium concentration. (4) In addition to the adrenal cortex, there may be numerous non-endocrine factors that affect sweat electrolyte composition.
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