Abstract
The influence of environmental temperature on the recovery rate of skin wounds was studied.
Male rabbits about 2500 grams in weight were prepared in the following manner. Four wounds, 3cm square, were made on the backs of the rabbits which were kept in different temperature and humidity rooms.
The area of the wounds was measured every day and the contraction of the wound was observed. At the same time the weight changes and histological studies were made. The course of healing was divided into a period of fluctuation where the area of the wound fluctuated in the beginning and a linear period where the wound contracted into a line. The rate of healing was defined as the time it took for the wound to heal and the slant of the linear period when the time was plotted against the area of the wound.
The following rooms were prepared for the experiment;
1. room temperature 10°C humidity 81-89%
2. room temperature 22°C humidity 52-56%
3. room temperature 32°C humidity 78-82%
4. room temperature 36°C humidity 68-72%
The results of the experiment was as follows:
A. The rapidity of healing was found to be in the order of 22°C, 32°C, 36°C, and 10°C showing that there was a desirable temperature range in rapid recovery of wounds.
B. Even when the rabbits were adapted to the different temperature condition, the rapidity of healing process was not influenced.
C. When the rabbit was placed in one temperature during the period of fluctuation and another in the linear period the rate of recovery was found to be between the two temperatures.
D. The fluctuation period was shorter when the temperature was elevated but the linear period changed over a certain temperature. In other words a certain temperature seems to effect the fluctuation period and the linear period in different ways.
E. Even at moderate temperatures, if the wound is cooled locally, the recovery is prolonged but if the wound is warmed locally at a cooler room temperature the healing is hastened. In other words the temperature of the wound site has a great influence on the rate of recovery of the wound.
F. When the wound was kept at the same temperature locally and a difference was established in the room temperatures: namely a warm room and a cool room, it was found that the recovery of the wound was definitely slower in the case where the room temperature was lower even though both wounds were kept at the same temperature locally. This signifies that besides the local temperature of the wound the room temperature influences the body in general and can influence the recovery rate of the wound itself.
