The Initiation of Wound Shock

Introduction The name "wound shock" is suggested in order to avoid the confusion which arises, even among medical officers, if the word "shock" alone is used. The term "surgical shock" used in connection with the reaction of the body to wound injury is also to be deprecated. Wound shock may supervene early on. That is, the man suddenly becomes pale, clammy and pulseless; and a low pressure may be found as soon as it is possible to make a reading, fifteen to twenty minutes after the man has been hit. To this group of symptoms with hypotension the nameprimary wound shockis given. When, on the other hand, as the result of a long carry in the cold or the onset of toxemia, or the presence of continuous slight hemorrhage, or combinations of these conditions, a man previously in good condition develops similar shock symptoms, a condition ofsecondary