STUDIES ON THE MECHANISM OF CARDIAC INJURY IN EXPERIMENTAL HYPOTHERMIA

Abstract
There are numerous reports in the literature that subsequent to exposure to severe cold accompanied by a lowering of body temperature severe cardiac irregularities or sudden death may occur. These effects may occur even up to 24 hours after the exposure when the body temperature has long since returned to normal.1-6 Such instances were encountered during the war with previous exposure to cold water (immersion) or with certain therapeutic uses of cold as an adjuvant in the treatment of malignancy. Numerous investigators have attempted to explain the hypothermic death but no single theory has found general acceptance. Ariel, Bishop and