Hand In Cold Water Research Articles

Studies on habituation to cold pain.

It was possible to produce habituation to cold in a group of human subjects by immersing the left hand in cold water for [Formula: see text] minutes twice a day for 19 days. The right hand did not adapt. Another group of subjects was exposed similarly with the difference that an anxiety test (mental arithmetic test) was always given simultaneously with the cold-water test. In this second group the original blood pressure response, i.e. for the first day, was greater than in the first group because of the cumulative effects of the two tests. After 19 days definite evidence was obtained for adaptation to these two tests administered together. However, when these tests were given separately to the second group, no adaptation was evident; adaptation occurred only to both tests given simultaneously. These results indicate that no adaptation develops to cold per se if the subjects are distracted from cold discomfort. It was also found that adaptation of one hand to cold water not only failed to induce adaptation in the opposite hand but even reinforced responses of the unadapted hand. These findings suggest a participation of the central nervous system in adaptation to cold pain, and tend to minimize the importance of local peripheral changes.

Pain reactivity and field dependence.

48 young males were divided into three groups based on rated intensity of pain experienced during immersion of the hand in cold water. The groups differed significantly in performance on an embedded figures task, a measure of field dependence. High pain reactivity corresponded to field independence; low pain reactivity corresponded to field dependence.

EFFECTS OF IMMERSION OF THE HAND IN COLD WATER ON DIGITAL BLOOD FLOW.

The temperatures of the tip of the middle fingers ( Ts) of nine comfortably warm subjects have been recorded during immersion of all the fingers of one hand in a 27–liter bath containing slowly stirred water at temperatures ranging from 4.6 to 40 C ( Tw). Blood flow ( F = ml/cm2 per min) was estimated from the average Ts for the last 15 min of a 20-min period, Tw and body temperature ( Tb) by using the equation: F = 1,087 x K( Ts – Tw)/ ( Tb – Ts). (K = 0.0134 kcal/cm2 per min per °C.) The increase in F per °C reduction in Tw below 10 C was 0.16 ± 0.077 (P < .05). This value gives a measure of the vasodilatation occasioned by immersion in water below 10 C. The sample regression equation of F on Tw was: F = 4.1 – .16 Tw ± 0.17 (n = 27; range of Tw = 4.6 to 10 C). This method of estimating blood flow at several levels of Tw describes more fully the peripheral circulatory response to cold than methods in which only one level of Tw is used. cold-induced vasodilatation; temperature and finger blood flow Submitted on August 28, 1963

FLUCTUATIONS INSENSIBLE PERSPIRATION

1. The rate of cutaneous insensible perspiration in a certain region of a subject varied day by day even when it was measured under the same experimental conditions. Fluctuations within short periods of time were also observed. The amplitude of variations or fluctuations in various regions were large in the following order: Palm, forehead, chest, forearm. Fluctuations in insensible perspiration tended to occur synchronously or in parallel in various regions, revealing that they were caused by common, central agents.2. The rate of cutaneous insensible perspiration in a limb (forearm and leg) varied according to its position referring to the heart level. Raising the limb was resulted in reduction of the rate, and vice versa.3. The relationship between cutaneous insensible perspiration and skin temperature was not observed clearly, when the subject was placed in conditions of thermal equilibrium. On the other hand, in the area where the skin temperature was changed considerably by local cooling or heating, a significant positive correlationship was observed. In the cases of vasomotor reflexes elicited by immersion of one hand in cold water, significant relationship between the two variables was also observed in general view in the forearm of the cooled side, but, it was found that the changes in insensible perspiration followed not always the changes in skin temperature in detail. Variations in insensible perspiration seemed rather the reflexion of circulatory changes evoked by the cold stimulus.4. In conclusion, it was confirmed that peripheral blood flow can affect the rate of cutaneous insensible perspiration, however, this effect is not realized by changing skin temperature.

Centipedes and Bees

As a postscript to Dr. Hutchinson's letters, I offer the following:—The centipede does not biteat all-it males tiny incisions with its- numerous feet; which in themselves cause trifling inconvenience; but, when alarmed, it drops into each some kind of venom that, causes intense inflammation (the modus operandi now forget,'but a-meditaTfriend explained it very clearly). I once had a centipede's nest in or near my bath-room, no less than eleven of different sizes having been killed there. Our first knowledge of them was derived from an infant child;of the female servant, who, having been left on the floor there, was found crying and writhing beyond all soothing. - When brought to me the child was feverish and restless, the left band specially hot'; on removing the little jacket, the fore-arm was found greatly swelled's!Jn(i iftflamed, -with twer rows, less than half an inch apart, %f pricks -shpwmg white on the delicate-brown flesh. Ipecacuanha, and eau de hice soon SuHuied tie'pain, but it was days'before 'the child was well a^ii. Several o other persqns also suffered from them,1 tut only -in 'one case was tie line''Cf pricks-;learly traceable. Once, stooping to take up a Water-pot, I felt aflittlefraissemtiit about the thumb; looking down, I perceived a centipede fully four inches* long, which- deliberately crawled across my hand near the knuckles, causing no'pairi, but a most unpleasant titillation, which continued for some time, though I put the hand in cold water immediately. On another occasion, seeing a centipede on the naked foot of one. of the women, I called out to her, Roho rnut(do not stir), and she similarly escaped all serious injury, while an application of warm, oil very quickly removed all irritation. Of course it is only when crawling straightforward and undisturbed that the line of pricks can possibly be detected. On disturbance the animal shrinks up, curls round, and brings a number of them into one spot; at least such was the case the only time I ever saw a centipede do mischief; and the same appeared probable on other occasions when I saw merely the after-result.