Virgil H. Moon

Influence of Cortisone upon Acute Inflammation.

Summary (1) The inflammatory reactions resulting from thermal injuries were compared in cortisone-treated animals with those in untreated controls. (2) Diapedesis, capillary hemorrhages and edema were quantitatively much less in the cortisone-treated animals. Hyperemia and leukocytic infiltration also were less in degree but the difference in these items was not so marked as in diapedesis, hemorrhages and edema. (3) There is acceptable evidence that the corticoid hormones increase the resistance of capillary walls. The authors believe that this effect reduces the degree of each of the features in the inflammatory reaction.

Effect of Cortisone upon Local Capillary Permeability

Summary 1. Various products of protein digestion and extracts of normal tissues caused increased capillary permeability when injected intradermally. This effect was reduced greatly by pre treatment with cortisone. 2. Local edema and leukocytic infiltration developed at the site of the injections. These effects were more acute in the untreated animals. There was evidence that cortisone inhibited the emigration of leukocytes from within the minute vessels.

Pathology of Irradiation Sickness A New Method for Inducing Shock

Summary Exposure of the abdomen to deep Roentgen irradiation causes physiologic disturbances like those of shock arising from other causes. This is accompanied by progressive hemoconcentration. The visceral findings post mortem are those characteristic of shock regardless of its origin. Deep Roentgen irradiation causes delayed necrosis of the intestinal mucosa. The resulting signs of illness are likewise delayed in onset. Irradiation provides a new method for inducing shock by injury to living tissues. This method eliminates the confusing effects of other factors including pain, emotional reactions, sympatho-adrenal hyperactivity, hemorrhage and anesthesia.

Shock in Bile Peritonitis.

Conclusions Intraperitoneal or intravenous injections of bile or of sodium glycocholate produce the shock syndrome characteristically in dogs. This is accompanied by hemo-concentration as in shock otherwise produced. Sublethal degrees of shock follow sublethal doses of the agents mentioned. These may recover or may result in pulmonary edema, pneumonia and subsequent death. The postmortem findings are the same as those following shock otherwise produced. These are: marked capillary and venous engorgement of the lungs, serosa, gastro-intestinal mucosa, liver and kidneys; edema of lungs, gastro-intestinal mucosa, and serous effusions; anemia of the splenic substance. The evidence indicates that bile or its salts cause acute injury to the walls of capillaries and venules. This results in atony and increased permeability, whereby a disparity develops between blood volume and volume-capacity of the vascular system. Such a disparity manifests itself in the shock syndrome.

Effects of Cortisone on Blood Cells after Thermal Stress.

Summary 1. Our results indicate that cortisone inhibits and retards the development of hemoconcentration after thermal stress in rabbits. We attribute this to its property of maintaining endothelial impermeability. 2. After injections of cortisone the total white cell count is lowered, due largely to severe lymphocytopenia. This finding agrees with previous reports by others. 3. Thermal stress in rabbits is followed by leukocytosis. This is of less degree and develops more slowly under the influence of cortisone.