The World War afforded an unusual opportunity to study and treat traumatic hemorrhage and shock. This resulted in a great impetus to the use of fluids intravenously for restoring normal fluid balance, combating hemorrhage and resultant shock, and aiding the treatment of wound septicemias and toxemias. At present infusions are also used widely for anemias, burns and dehydration due to various causes. Blood has been the fluid of choice in practically all conditions. However, on reflection it appears that blood may be replaced quite adequately in some circumstances. Thus, in severe infections serum (other than specific serum) may be used instead of blood if there is no associated secondary anemia. Traumatic and operative shock1and burns2are characterized by extensive plasma loss and hemoconcentration, resulting in a diminished volume and more viscid blood. It would seem that these conditions would be best relieved by serum or saline solution,