140 



PHYSIOLOGY OF INDUCED HYPOTHERMIA 



sion, the BMR undergoes tremendous changes, passing from vakies doul)le normal 

 to vahies Ijelow normal. 



At the moment of death, liver glycogen stores are greatly reduced and severe 

 hypoglycemia is present. A 24 hours' starvation prior to cooling shortens appre- 

 ciahly the tolerance to the duration of hypothermia. 



The range of cold narcosis. Rats maintained in cold narcosis at about 15° C. 

 differ from those kept in the range of active defence by a much shorter survival 

 time (10-12 hours). Also, the changes in blood sugar and liver glycogen are less 

 significant at the time of death. Hypoglycemia precedes death in the range of active 

 defence, but hyperglycemia is usually still present in death at 15° C. 



The range of suspended animation. The changes taking place with time in 

 animals kept in suspended animation at 0° C. of body temperature are more difficult 

 to detect. Death can be ascertained only by the failure of reanimation. The rate 

 of complete recovery decreases as the duration of suspended animation is prolonged, 

 and the rate of secondary deaths, occurring after partial recovery, increases until 

 any recovery becomes impossible (fig. 9). 



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FiG. 8.- 



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HOURS 



-Metabolic rate and body tcni]>craturc (hiring tbc first 10 lu.urs of immersion. A vertical 

 line marks tbe moment of (.(inililiration between body and water temperature. 



