In a series of studies of renal function in the various clinical types of nephritis undertaken this year, I have been impressed by a striking peculiarity in the behavior to the functional tests of four cases,1 all of which, clinically and from the urine examination, apparently belong to one group. The one feature characteristic to all has been a supranormal excretion of the substances employed in the functional tests in the presence of undoubted and severe renal disturbance.
In this connection it is interesting to note the recent article by Pepper and Austin,2 in which these authors describe a case apparently of the same character as those here reported. The case cited was undoubtedly an instance of parenchymatous nephritis in which the phthalein test on one occasion showed an excretion of 71 per cent, for two hours, and two months later, 82 per cent, for the same time.