At a time when the expression "acidosis" is exhibiting exceptional prominence in the lay press as well as in medical literature, it may be appropriate to recall some characteristics of the less well appreciated "alkalosis." It is worthy of emphasis that the symptoms of acidosis and alkalosis may be surprisingly similar. Apparently they are an expression of an upset in the acid-base balance of the organism. In an experimental study of the subject by Koehler,1 virtually every symptom elicited during acidosis was noted during alkalosis; namely, loss of appetite, lassitude, listlessness, headache, nausea and drowsiness.
The liberal use of alkalis has characterized, in many cases, the management of actual or suspected acidosis, and likewise the treatment of peptic ulcer. For the latter purpose sodium bicarbonate has been used freely in the past, particularly in connection with such procedures as those known through the recommendation of Sippy. Of late, a