Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine
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Uraemia is common, little is known of its actual nature and treatment has therefore been unsatisfactory. The kidney is not only an organ of excretion but guards the chemical and physical constitution of the extracellular fluids. In uraemia, urea and other products of metabolism including the toxic phenols accumulate. ⋯ The composition of the dialysing fluid is of the utmost importance the aim being to keep the physical and chemical balance of the extracellular fluid within the normal range and to encourage the diffusion of toxic metabolic products. The excessive use of parenteral fluids and diuretics in uraemia may be harmful. A number of cases of peritoneal dialysis are described.