THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESISTANCE BY RATS AND GUINEA PIGS TO AMOUNTS OF TRAUMA USUALLY FATAL

Abstract

By gradually increasing the degree of trauma, as applied by the drum method it has been possible to make rats and guinea pigs resistant to amts. of trauma fatal to normal animals. Resistant animals, when exposed to severe trauma, appear normal in every respect and do not show any of the signs of shock as encountered in normal animals. The resistant condition persists after numerous repetitions of trauma, is not affected by nembutal anesthesia, and is still present some months after the last exposure to trauma. Adrenalectom-ized rats develop a resistant state to trauma similar to intact animals.