SHOCK 29 



by means of the gyromele, which was revolved within 

 the stomach for three minutes. 



The important point which we must here stress is 

 that a similar localized response — namely hyperemia 

 — is elicited by means of three decidedly dififerent 

 agents: a chemical irritant, a temperature rise, and 

 mechanical irritation. (Turck, 1900.) Repetition of 

 these experiments in animals whose abdomens had 

 been opened in such fashion as to permit observation 

 of the splanchnic circulation showed that a moderate 

 stimulation of the gastric mucosa by any of the three 

 agents discussed above did not produce any marked 

 changes in the splanchnic circulation. When, how- 

 ever, the chemical or mechanical irritation was pro- 

 longed, or the temperature of the water introduced 

 into the stomach was sufficiently high, there was evi- 

 denced a marked change in the splanchnic circulation. 

 There first appears a marked hyperemia, which is 

 followed by an intense venous congestion, the veins 

 becoming distended, and as a result the intestines as- 

 sume a dark purplish shade. Finally such splanchnic 

 congestion causes a pronounced peripheral anemia. 

 It is worthy of note that this picture is identical with 

 that observed in shock produced by any other means. 

 (Turck, 1897.) 



A similar state of affairs was induced by inflating the 

 stomach with air after ligation of the pylorus. Within 

 five minutes, venous engorgement of the gastric ves- 

 sels ensued, followed in another five minutes by 

 splanchnic congestion, and subsequently by cardiac 

 dyspnea, respiratory failure, and finally complete col- 

 lapse of the animal. Comparable results were obtained 



