A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF TRAUMA ON HEALTHY VIGOROUS DOGS WITH AND WITHOUT ADRENAL GLANDS

Abstract

The type of adrenalectomized dog used had well healed wounds, was free from infection or symptoms of any kind, and was vigorous, active, eating full rations and at peak wt. Such animals, kept in normal health by daily injections of cortical hormone, are extremely susceptible to any trauma. The data indicate that the unoperated dog has sufficient reserve hormone in his intact functioning adrenal cortical tissue to prevent shock following hemorrhage and trauma, unless so extreme as to override the glands. The adrenalectomized dog, enjoying good health but lacking such reserve hormone, succumbs to shock from trivial injury. Shock can be prevented by priming with cortical hormone previous to trauma, or profound shock and collapse can be overcome by intraven. injections of adequate amts. of cortical hormone.