CARDIAC GLYCOSIDES IN TRAUMATIC SHOCK

Four cardiac glycosides digitoxin, k-strophanthin, ouabain, and acetyldigitoxin —were found to exert protective effect against death from tumbling shock. Digitoxin was shown to elevate the median lethal trauma in a manner comparable to that of other agents found to be protective. The time course of digitoxin protection is not similar to the cardiotonic action of the drug, but does parallel the effect of digitoxin on serum potassium levels and the ability of the former drug to protect against lethal potassium chloride infusion. This is interpreted to indicate that the protective effect is not directly on the heart, but upon potassium balance.