1. The renal function in 12 cases of untreated and five cases of treated congestive cardiac failure of rheumatic, hypertensive, or ischaemic origin was studied by the urinary clearance of diodone and inulin.2. In four of seven untreated patients with cardiac failure, intravenous digoxin produced an immediate fall in systemic venous pressure, which was followed by a rise in renal plasma-flow, glomerular ifitration rate, and urine flow; the ifitration fraction fell slightly in three cases, while tubular reabsorption decreased. In the remaining three patients the systemic venous pressure did not fall; in two the renal function was unaltered, and in one it was significantly depressed.3. Reduction of systemic venous pressure by venous occlusion thigh cuffs in five patients with untreated cardiac failure produced no significant alteration in the renal plasma-flow or glomerular filtration rate. In one subject there was a transient increase in the urine flow.4. The significance of these findings is discussed.
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