THE EFFECT OF FORCING FLUIDS UPON SURVIVAL AFTER BILATERAL EPINEPHRECTOMY

Abstract

Ringer''s solution, given orally several times a day, prolonged the life-span of epinephrectomized cats to an average of 174 hrs. as compared with 60 hours in controls. Doubling the percentage of the constituents in the solution did not materially affect the survival period. NaCl in 1% solution lengthened the life-span to 119 hrs.; Na-HCO3 increased it to 143.3 hrs. Na acetate had no effect. A solution containing Mg lactate, Sr lactate, and acid sodium phosphate increased the survival period to an average of 150 hrs. Another solution containing MgSO4, SrCl2, and Na2SO4 failed to prolong life beyond the usual 60 hrs.'' average. Glucose given orally lengthened the survival period to 180 hrs. Possibly the forcing of fluids flushes some toxic substance out of the organism. Such treatment is merely palliative, since all animals so treated eventually die with typical adrenal symptoms.