A method of measuring changes in the total body content of calcium, phosphorus, nitrogen and sodium in rats by activation analysis in vivo is described. 2. The change in the body content of the elements has been measured in rats on a calcium-deficient diet and in control animals, the body nitrogen being used to represent lean body mass for normalization. 3. There were siginificant differences in Ca/N and P/N but not in Ca/P ratios between the animals on a deficient diet and control animals at the end of the dietary period.