PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF HIGH FREQUENCY CURRENT

Abstract

Pulmonary ventilation was increased in amytalized dogs by three methods: (1) rebreathing, (2) simultaneous warming of the carotid and cooling of the jugular blood, (3) cent. nerv. system (CNS) hyperthermia by means of crossed circulation. In (1) the animal was induced to double or treble his ventilation before any increase in O2 consumption was noted. By (2) the oral temp. was raised 1.5[degree] C above rectal without appreciable change in respiration. By (3) oral temp. was raised 3-4[degree] C above rectal with comparatively little effect on respiration. By heating both CNS and trunk a marked polypnea ensued. On the average the increase in Oa consumption per liter of excess pulmonary ventilation per min. was 0.8%, about 2/3 the value for man.