Abstract
A study on hot-spring bathing and variation in serum electrolyte led to the following conclusions:
1) Single bathing brought about variations in serum Na, K and Ca content, but variations in serum Na and K content are less than those in serum Ca content. These variations either increase or decrease, showing that there is no definite tendency in them; it clearly shows, that variations differ from parson to person. The variation is most pronounced immediately after bathing and usually returns to the value before bathing in about 90 minutes.
Similarly there is individual difference in the correlation between each electrolyte, and no definite tendency is observable in the increase or decrease in Na and K, and K and Ca.
2) The changes in elecrolyte brought about by single bathing gradually decreased with the progress of curative bathing until what is called adaptation phenomenon appeared. This is true of the correlation of each electrolyte, especially of the variation in Ca/K.
3) On the other hand, it has been made clear from a number of studies made in our Institute that a close relation exists between balneal treatment and the autonomic nervous system.
Consequently, the variations in serum electrolyte caused by bathing can be understood more clearly by considering them to he those in the autonomic nervous system caused by a nonspecific stimulation of bathing rather than by considering them to be due to the percutaneous absorption of the electrolyte in bathing water.
