Chemistry of Palmar Sweat

THE CHLORIDE content of general body or thermal-regulating sweat has been studied by many observers1under various conditions of increased temperature, humidity and work in both hot climates and thermal chambers. Values for chloride in the sweat, as previously reported, range from 52 to 700 mg. of sodium chloride in 100 cc. of sweat. The average, however, is about 250 mg. in 100 cc. The studies on thermal-regulating sweat are important, because they contribute much to the knowledge of loss of chemicals and water from the body as a whole. However, they give only limited information on what the sweat gland itself can do. In other words, the study of profuse dilute general body sweat contributes to the knowledge of the skin in the same way that the study of renal function during profuse diuresis contributes to the knowledge of the kidney. Since it is important to dermatologists and