THE BENIGN EFFECTS ON RABBITS' LUNGS OF THE ASPIRATION OF WATER COMPARED WITH 5% GLUCOSE OR MILK

A 5% solution of glucose in water is often used for the first feeding, on the assumption that if aspirated it would be less injurious to lungs than milk. We have tested that assumption on 56 rabbits, divided into seven groups, anesthetized, and intubated with a polyethylene tube. They were sacrificed at 15 minutes or 24 hours after the instillation of 5% glucose, water, on milk. Comparisons of the treated groups with one group of control rabbits were made with respect to blood gases, resting lung volumes, lung weights, pressure-volume curves, and histology. The results showed no significant differences between milk and 5% glucose by any criterion at 15 minutes or 24 hours. The water-treated rabbits had significantly less damage to their lungs. This suggests that water would be a safer test substance for the first feed than 5% glucose or milk.