SYNOPSIS Total body water was measured using tritium in 30 males and 30 females. It was found that total body water could be predicted from height and weight, and formulae for both males and females have been produced with multiple correlation coefficients (r) of 0 95 and 0-96 respectively. The predicted total body water was found to be very closely related to the predicted surface area giving correlation coefficients (r) for males and females of 0 997 and 0-985 respectively.

SYNOPSIS Total body potassium was measured in 103 healthy adults using a shadow-shield wholebody monitor of high sensitivity. The standard deviation from regression was smaller when total body potassium was correlated with height than with weight and was further reduced, to about 9 %, in a multiple regression using height and age. The advantages of this relationship over indices involving weight are discussed. The smallest standard deviation from regression, 7-5 %, was obtained when total body potassium was correlated with height, weight, and age. The usefulness of this relationship is discussed with comment on its limitations.A regression equation was derived between lean body mass (derived from height and weight) and total body potassium with a standard deviation from regression of 550% in males and 7.30% in females.

Summary. Leucocyte ascorbic acid was measured in 7 subjects during the common cold. There was a significant fall in L. A.A. to Pauling (1970), there has been much discussion in the public press and elsewhere both in America and in this country on the prophylactic and therapeutic value of ascorbic acid in infections by the common cold virus.During the winter of 1971, we were able to observe the changes occurring in the leucocyte ascorbic acid levels (L.A.A.) in 7 individual members of the staff of one medical unit in a general hospital, during an outbreak of the common cold. Ascorbic acid saturation tests were also carried out to determine whether there was an optimum dose of ascorbic acid which would saturate both the white blood cells and the serum. The effect of 'optimum' doses of ascorbic acid during further episodes of the common cold was studied in 3 individuals. In view of the difficulty in carrying out detailed studies on individuals who are harbouring the common cold virus and who are taking supplements of ascorbic acid, we felt that these observations also were worth reporting. MATERIAL AND METHODS SubjectsSeven members (2 males and 5 females) of the medical and nursing staff were studied while suffering from the common cold. By chance, 4 individuals had measurements of their L.A.A. performed during the week prior to the onset of symptoms. Six individuals had measurements performed on the first day of symptoms; 5 on the second day of symptoms; 7 on the third day of symptoms; 5 on the fourth day of symptoms; 3 on the fifth day of symptoms and 7 on the tenth day of symptoms. Symptoms had usually subsided by the fifth day.

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1. The concentration of potassium in the erythrocytes and the plasma of forty-one normal subjects and twenty-five diabetic patients was measured and the results were used to calculate the total amount of potassium in the erythrocyte mass and the total amount of potassium in the plasma. The total body potassium was measured in a whole-body monitor. 2. In normal subjects a close correlation was found between total erythrocyte potassium and total body potassium and also between total plasma potassium and total body potassium. 3. The regression relation between total body potassium and total erythrocyte potassium in normal subjects was used to predict the total body potassium in diabetic patients. There was reasonable agreement between the measured and predicted total body potassium but there was poor agreement between the measured total body potassium and that predicted from the patient's height and age or height and age or height, weight and age.