The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-04-18
DEATH FROM SHOCK
INJURY
Much Evidence Regarding Toxic Poi
son Brought About By Tearing
of Muscles and Other
Tissues.

Cambridge, Mass, April Is. Diseov-
cries made by DIR. Walter b. Cannon Of
the Harvard Medical school and other
American, British and French medical
officers toward the close of the World
war have brought forth new evidence
regarding the cause and nature of the
strange condition known as Shock a
condition that led to innumerable
deaths in wal time subsequently has
a similar result after accidents in time
of peace.
"Shock, or wound shock as it is
often called, has long baffled the medi
cal profession" DR.. Cannon said to-day
to the Associated Press, on being asked
to describe the results of his important
work in France.
"This condition, which by the way
should not be confused with shell
shock, an entirely different phenom-
enon, usually develops some hours
after a serious wound or accident. 1t
frequently followed grave she'll
wounds in the war, and often comes on
after a person has been seriously hurt
in an accident in times of peace, after,
for example, he has had a limb crushed
in a railroad accident.
"A man in a state of shock usually
lies perfectly quiet, his skin is sold and
moist with sweat, his pulse is rapid
and thready, his a%rterial pressure is
much reduced, he breathes rapidly and
specifically, and although not psrpl-
yzed he has little energy and his mind
is dulled. He often complains of being
cold and thirsty. This condition may
be followed by death or by gradual re
There have been numerous theories
of the nature Of shock. Some doctors
held that shock resulted from nervous
collapse, others that it came from a
OF blood vessels by fat from
wounds, som that it was due to par
of the nerves controlling the ar
t%eries, others than the adrenal gland
somehow affected so as to do the
mischief, and Sc on.
Our work in France gave us oppor-
.unities to study shock in the utmost
One by one We threw out the
,heories advanced in former years.
1--WE finally tested and established
he fact that the condition results
rom the tearing or crushing of mus
les or other tissues by missiles NOV
ng with terrific velocity. The damaged
II dead tissue soon becomes toxic, or
n other words acts like a sort of poi
This toxin causes an increased
'ermeability OF the smallest bloodves
els, the capillaries, and thus there is
ost through their walls quantities Of
he fluid portion OF the blood which
hould be in circulation. The result is
omewhat similar to that of great loss
/ blood from the body"
American, British and French medi-
al and surgical officers cooperated in
he Investigations, some of which were
iade at Bethune in 1917, some in Lon
and others at Dion in 1918 in a
lboratory Of the American expedi
.onary force under DIR. C%annon's di- /.
q
Toward the end of the wal we had !
armed much about methods Of treat /,
such cases, finding that it was !
alpful to keep the patient amply a
arm, TO give him quantities Of va !
r, and il necessary 10 transfuse blood b
Ito his system from somebody %else's,"
/, said. c
THE mass Of information about a
lock which was collected during the e
ar and viii ultimately be published o
going TO prove useful in times of :
ace, for the condition often develops A
ter accidents Of various kinds in
hich there is extensive tearing or
Of tissues, and physicians
now be able 70 handle such cases
ore effectively than ever before" =
DIR. Cannon is now engaged at the
award physiological laboratory in
ldies of the functions Of the thyroid
and, following his discoveries in re
nj years concerning the adrenal
=.