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Sudden “exhaustive” death in excited patients

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Summary

Pertinent reports concerning lethal neurovascular mechanisms are briefly discussed.

Four additional cases of exhaustion in excited psychotic patients are reported:

  1. a.

    Two of the four patients died suddenly following the usual therapy of nourishment, sub-narcosis, 5 per cent glucose in saline. A suggestion as to the mechanism of death is made.

  2. b.

    Two of the patients improved from the exhausted state following the additional therapy of large doses of sodium chloride and injections with synthetic or extract type of adrenal cortical homone.

Sudden exhaustive death in the continually hyperactive patient may be expected in the presence of rapid thready pulse, profuse perspiration, and increasing hyperpyrexia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Station Hospital, Fort Benning, Ga

    Norman R. Shulack M. C., A. U. S.

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  1. Norman R. Shulack M. C., A. U. S.
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Approved for publication by the Surgeon General, United States Army.

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Shulack, N.R. Sudden “exhaustive” death in excited patients. Psych Quar 18, 3–12 (1944). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01569018

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01569018

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