Dextrose Plethora. 



151 



years ago from Dr. Lusk's laboratory by Fisher and Wishart 1 it 

 was believed that our observations could be correlated with the 

 dextrose plethora described by the last mentioned investigators. 



To this end dextrose was first given to dogs by mouth in 

 doses varying from 1 to 10 gms. per kilo with quantities of 

 water, usually sufficient to make about a 30 per cent, solution. 

 Observations were made upon dogs which had just been fasted 

 for two days subsequent to receiving an adequate daily ration 

 of meat, bread, and lard. Two dogs showed a maximum in- 

 crease of 15-20 per cent, in the hemoglobin and 6.6-8.6 per cent, 

 in the total blood solids. In no case was there any indication 

 that the blood volume was increased. 



The maximum rises of temperature in these two experiments 

 were o.6° and 0.2 0 C. respectively, the minimum temperatures 

 noted being 0.2 0 respectively above and below normal, (hourly 

 observations after injection of dextrose). In two similar experi- 

 ments with normal dogs, no variation greater than 0.2 0 C. was 

 observed in the course of the day. 



In two dogs which had been given a coli injection (325,000 

 million bacilli per c.c.) on the previous day, reductions in tem- 

 perature of —0.2 0 and — 0.5 0 C. respectively were noted (at the 

 end of three hours). From the above it was concluded that it is 

 difficult to give dextrose by mouth in such a dose as constantly 

 to affect the temperature either of normal or of fever dogs. 



The changes in the blood above described must be attributed 

 to a tendency of the sugar to enter the circulation slowly or else 

 to leave it rapidly, in either case abstracting water. To confirm 

 the observations on this blood concentration may be cited three 

 experiments in which dextrose was given per os simultaneously with 

 a coli injection. In one of these was noted an exaggeration of the 

 usual (3-7 per cent.) increase in blood solids produced by such coli 

 injections. In the hemoglobin content, 23, 29 and 15 per cent, 

 increases were noted. 



Knowing that a plethora could be induced by dextrose if 

 introduced into the circulation in the proper amounts and at the 

 proper rate, intravenous injections 2 were next instituted. Two 



1 Fisher, G. and Wishart, J. Biol. Chem., 1912, xiii, 49. 



2 Starling, E. H., Jour. Physiol., 1899, 24, 317. 



