“The reductions in the body in fever,” with demonstrations

Abstract

The author called attention to the influence of temperature on the activity of reduction in the living organism as indicated by intravital infusion of methylene blue. Elevation of the body temperature greatly accelerates the rate of reduction in the tissues. This was demonstrated by means of an intravital infusion of methylene blue in a rabbit, whose body temperature had been elevated to 42° C. through the external application of heat. Simultaneously with this infusion, another infusion was made in a rabbit of approximately equal weight, in which the temperature was maintained at about 39° C. In other respects, the conditions of the infusion were as nearly alike as possible in the two animals. A definite contrast was noted at the close of the infusion between the organs of the two animals as respects their color, the normal rabbit showing more color than the one in which the temperature had been elevated. The differences in the nervous system and the muscles were particularly striking. Even during life, an inspection of the muscles indicated that the reduction was carried on with greater rapidity in the heated rabbit than in the normal one. Previous observations on the reducing action of the animal body under the influence of cold were referred to.