Abstract
THE method of Stern1 for representing experimental data seems to be useful. However, the equation of Haigh and Reiss2 has good theoretical justification, and it seemed worth while to see whether there was any simple relation between the two formulæ. Stern derives the equation to represent the data where Q and t 0 are constants and x is the cumulative excretion as a function t. Haigh and Reiss's equation is where x max. and λ are constants. Plotting Haigh and Reiss's equation in the manner of Stern gives an effective straight line over the range t = 0.2/λ to t = 4/λ, and this curve then has a discontinuity and becomes the horizontal straight line x = x max. for greater times. This straight line yields values of Q = a x max. and t 0 = b/λ; tentative values of the constants a and b are a = 0.25 and b = 0.1. For values less than 0.2/λ, the curve tends to the straight line x = 0 as t tends to zero. This behaviour is more satisfactory than the straight line of Stern, as the latter will yield negative excretions for the period immediately after the injection. Thus it appears that in fact Stern's method is merely a convenient way of plotting a Haigh–Reiss formula.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Stern, B., Nature, 175, 258 (1955).
Haigh, G. P., and Reiss, M., Brit. J. Radiol., 23, 538 (1950).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
HOUGH, J., BARNARD, H. & BASSIR, O. Urinary Excretion of a Substance after a Single Dose. Nature 175, 776 (1955). https://doi.org/10.1038/175776a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/175776a0
This article is cited by
-
Excretion Equations and Interpretation for Digitoxin
Nature (1957)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.