Abstract
Changes in blood gas were mainly studied on animals of various sizes with their thorax left open in order to obtain basic data on oxygen supply at the time of thoracotomy in large animals.
When the thorax was left open for 60 to 70 minutes in one cow, six goats, and six dogs, all of which were allowed to lie on their right side, five goats and four dogs died. When determined 5 to 10 minutes after thoracotomy, oxygen content and saturation degree showed a decrease in the blood. Total carbon dioxide content increased a little immediately after thoracotomy and then decreased gradually. On the other hand, PCO2 and H2CO3 increased and pH decreased remarkably. Body temperature lowered. An increase was shown in red and white blood counts, hematocrit value, and hemoglobin and globulin contents. As a result, pyknemia was caused.
