The life-saving effect of physostigmine in haemorrhagic shock.

The intravenous injection of physostigmine (70 micrograms kg-1) produces a life-saving effect in acute haemorrhagic shock in non-anaesthetized rabbits. This effect is most probably due to a transfer of tissue fluids into circulation. The crucial beneficial effect of physostigmine might be a decrease of the capillary hydrostatic pressure due to changes in pre- to postcapillary resistance ratio. Both lines of defence comprise a normalization of blood pressure and normalization of blood volume, thus saving the life of the animal.