Anaphylactic Shock With Hemoconcentration Treated Intravenously With Saline Solution

The subject of shock, whether it is surgical or medical, is of unusual interest today. Recently I treated a patient in severe anaphylactic shock. The picture resembled so closely that of surgical shock that it appears of interest to present the details of this case. Ordinarily the treatment of anaphylactic shock is not considered in relation to the blood picture, as it is in cases of surgical shock. I believe that the treatment, based on hemoconcentration and decreased blood volume, was effective and that the method used is of practical significance. It is generally regarded now that an essential feature of shock is a relative decrease in the circulating blood volume compared with the size of the vascular system. Such an inequality may be brought about by a loss of fluid from the circulation or by an increase in the size of the vascular bed. When fluid is lost a