The Lymph K/CA Ratio of Dogs During Continuous Intravenous Injection of B. Coli.

Abstract

In dogs with thoracic incanulation, prepared under local anesthesia, the continuous intravenous injection of dilute B. coli suspension, results in a series of chemical changes in the lymph blood, which can be correlated to the clinical picture.

In the normal animal, a prompt lowering of the K/Ca ratio takes place, followed by a series of fluctuations until a time of maximum injury occurs, when a ratio as low as 0.8 may be reached. The primary drop in the ratio (due to a slight increase in the calcium and a considerable decrease in the potassium) is evidently associated with a primary stimulation of the splanchnic organs. The cellular effort to reestablish the normal equilibrium probably accounts for the fluctuations in the ratio after the primary drop.

During the periods of low K/Ca ratio, an increase in the lymph volume and lymph concentration give evidence of a coincident increase in permeability of capillaries and tissues.

The CO₂ combining power takes a progressive course downward without marked fluctuations of the curve.

The period of maximum injury is usually followed by an antimortem increase in the ratio, due probably to the liberation of potassium from the red blood corpuscles. At this time a most marked gastro-intestinal symptomatology usually occurs (vomiting and diarrhea).

Animals in whom a low K/Ca ratio is present before the injection is started, have an initial response that is paradoxical, i. e., the K/Ca ratio increases primarily. The complete details of the experiments will be published in the Archives of Internal Medicine and the Journal of Infectious Diseases.