830 SOCIÉTÉ DZ BEOLOGIli 



Présidence de M. Ch. Richet. 



A BASIS 



FOR DISCUSSION OP TRAUMATIC SIIOCK 



By Major W. B. CANNON, U. S. Army, 



Professor of Ph^-ïiology EIarvard Umyersity 



Définition. 



Traumatic stock îsa gênerai bodily slate ocearring after woundsand 

 charâcterized by persistent low arterial pressure, rapid puise, pallor, 

 sweating, and superficial, rapid respiration. 



[Facts of Observation. 



1. Persistent low arterial pressure. — Tliis dépression is tlie central 

 and pecnliar feature o£ alaock and is a measuïe of its degree. 



2. Coneentralion of eorpuscles in capiltaries. — The différence 

 between capillary and venous erylhrocyte counts in shock may be as 

 much as 2,300.000 corpusdes per cubic naiUimetre ( Bé thon e. observa- 

 tions). 



3. Concomitant variation of Ihe degree of shock and body tempéra- 

 ture. — Ihe blood pressure falls as the shûclied man becoDae& cold and 

 rises as he is warmed. 



4. Réduction of Ihe alkali reserve (i. e., ofthe sodium bicarbonate of 

 the blood) in many cases of shock. — Ihe réduction is often so great as 

 to constitute acidosis in Van Sl}'ke's définition (Béthune observations). 



5. A correspondence between the degree of réduction of the alkali 

 reserve and the degree of lowering of arterial pressure in shocked men 

 (Béthune observations). 



