VASODILATATION IN THE LOWER EXTREMITIES IN RESPONSE TO IMMERSING THE FOREARMS IN WARM WATER

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Abstract
In normal subjects immersing the forearms in warm water (43 to 45[degree] C.) produces vasodilatation in the lower extremities. In 10 observations on the spontaneously cool extremities of 6 normal subjects the rise in digital skin temperature began within 15 min. after immersing the forearms in water. The skin temp. in all but one of these observations exceeded 32[degree] C. by the 29th min. The immersion of one forearm or one leg in warm water produces vasodilatation in the other extremities. This type of vasodilatation apparently depends upon the return of warmed blood from the immersed extremity. The rise in rectal temperature produced by immersing two limbs in warm water ranged in 3 experiments from 0.1[degree] C. to 0.6[degree] C. Three cases illustrating vasodilator responses in certain. types of vascular disorders of the extremities are reported. With this method of producing vasodilatation, if the digital temperature rises above 32[degree] C. organic occlusion of the vessels supplying the extremity may be excluded.

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