Studies in experimental shock

Abstract

The experiments were made on etherized dogs. The intestines and stomach were dislocated and frequently handled. Two manifestations were studied, the blood pressure and the pain sense. We shall state merely the facts obtained.

About one third of the dogs were given a preliminary injection of morphin. Some of the animals were given ether by cone, others by the method of intratracheal insufflation. These factors had no apparent influence on the results.

There were 42 dogs which received surgical narcosis. In 15 the blood pressure never reached a level below 95 mm. even when the experiment lasted 4 hours or longer, and sensation returned as soon as the animals came out of ether. In 13 dogs the blood pressure reached a level below 70 mm. of mercury within two and a half hours and there was no return of pain sense. In 8 dogs the blood pressure sank to a low level but sensation of pain returned when ether was discontinued. In the remaining 6 dogs sensation was lost while the pressure was still above 95 mm. of mercury.

In 10 other dogs etherization was pushed to the point of intoxication. Interpretation of the results of this series is not simple, but it may be stated that the blood pressure, which fell in some instances to 42 mm. often continued to rise for as much as two hours after stopping the ether, eventually reaching a level above 90 mm. Pain sense sometimes returned after an even longer interval, but eventually recovered more completely than the blood pressure.