Protection Against Tourniquet Shock Afforded by Parabiosis. ∗

Summary

1. Elastic ligatures applied to both hind limbs of young female rats for 5 hours produced shock and death in 12 of 13 single rats; a marked and progressive decrease in body temperature and an increase in hemoconcentration invariably occurred in those which succumbed. 2. Tourniquets applied similarly to the limbs of one partner failed to produce a single death in 10 pairs of parabionts. A transient hemoconcentration was observed in the injured partner at 12 hours although rectal temperatures remained stable. Anemia occurred in the untreated member of many of the pairs, and is believed to reflect transfusion of the shocked rats, with compensatory hemodilution in an effort to sustain the blood volume.