THE RELATIONSHIP OF DEHYDRATION AND OVERHYDRATION OF THE BLOOD PLASMA TO COLLAPSE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ARTIFICIAL FEVER THERAPY 1

Abstract

The incidence of collapse during artificial fever therapy can be greatly reduced by judicious replacement of water and NaCl lost in sweat. The development of collapse is associated with dehydration and, occasionally, overhydration of the blood plasma. The symptoms accompanying both of these states resemble those of traumatic shock; pallor, cold extremities, and high body temp., absence of sweating and urinary excretion, mania or unconsciousness. There is, therefore, need for a guide to control the water and salt intake. This is satisfactorily provided by measurement of plasma sp. gr. This easily obtainable datum dependably forecasts the development of collapse and is therefore an extremely important item of procedure in artificial therapy.