In accordance with a prevailing opinion, the low blood pressure in "shock" is associated with a diminished effective volume of blood in the vessels, and the two factors constitute in themselves essential parts of the shock mechanism. On this assumption, benefits should result from procedures having the effect of holding water within the vessels. In normal individuals it is possible to accomplish this by effecting an entrance of glucose into the blood at appropriate rates sustained for sufficient lengths of time. Marked hydremic plethora and striking increases of the systolic blood pressure may thus be produced, and the present study has shown that the mean arterial pressure may also be elevated in this way. Glucose is, moreover, a food; it is capable of increasing the power of involuntary muscle contractions, elevating the total metabolism, combating at least one type of acidosis, and restoring depleted glycogen reserves. Has it a value