258 MAN --AN ADAPTIVE MECHANISM 



and " exhausted/' to endure a long period of lessened 

 efficiency, of weeping at trifles, of being easily fatigued, 

 of inability to " control" the steady uncalled-for out- 

 flow of energy which escapes like flood water over a low 

 dam a state that will continue until the threshold 

 is raised again by the gradual return of the brain to its 

 normal threshold. 



Aseptic Wound Fever and Postoperative 

 " Hyperthyroidism " 



The production and the prevention of aseptic wound 

 fever are based, as we believe, upon the physical law 

 that any form of energy may be converted into heat, 

 so that the pain stimuli from a wound may cause the 

 production of both heat and motion. Any stimulus 

 which drives the motor mechanism of the body beyond 

 the point of normal expression will cause -fever. Anger, 

 athletic contests, fear, physical injuries, all produce a 

 rapid oxidation, increased temperature and increased 

 acid by-products. In operations under general anes- 

 thesia, especially, we expect to see some postoperative 

 rise of temperature as the result of the activation of the 

 kinetic system by the physical and psychic activation of 

 the operation. Since, by the use of anociation, we are 

 able to minimize postoperative fever, we conclude that, 

 barring infection and the absorption of hemoglobin, 

 fever after operations under general anesthesia alone 

 is the result of increased transformation of energy, due 

 to activation of the kinetic system by trauma and 

 psychic stress. In like manner anociation prevents 

 postoperative " hyperthyroidism " by preventing the 

 activating impulses from reaching the brain during 



