Secretion of Electrolytes h Thermal Sweat’

M UST STUDIES of thermal sweat have dealt with the role of sweating in man’s acclimatization to heat, and modifications in the composition ‘of sweat during that process. Hypotheses have been postulated that acclimatization to heat is a function of the pituitary gland via the adrenal cortex (I) and that the electrolyte content of thermal sweat is a good index of adrenal cortical function (2). The precision of such an index may be enhanced by taking into consideration and integrating nonhormonal factors which modify sweat (3). While such factors in the external environment have been widely investigated (d-6), the possible influence of alterations in the internal environment has received meager attention. The present studies were under-taken to gain information concerning the effect of alterations in the volume, tonicity and acid-base relationships of the body fluids upon the secretion and composition of thermal sweat. MATERIALS AND METHODS Experimental. Procedure. The data presented are derived from 46 studies of 19 normal unacclimatized adult males, performed from October, 1950 to March, 1951