Abstract
Full-thickness thermal injury to 40% of the skin of rats is associated with a homeostatic impairment resulting in fatal circulatory breakdown. Fluid-treated burned rats, given various drug combinations (chlorpromazine, procaine, epinephrine, digitalis, methylandrostenolone), were studied in terms of survival in an environment of 22 C and 40% relative humidity. Drug effects are not reported. Three-fourths of all animals died within 10 days. Irrespective of drug treatments, the most important single factor determining fatal outcome in this study was heat loss, related to the air turbulence in the cages, estimated from the evaporation of water from a calibrated porous surface. The experiments are interpreted to indicate that the caloric loss in these animals exceeds the compensatory capability of the body, and may constitute a major factor in the pathogenesis of burn death.
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