A retrospective study of 17 episodes of septic shock was made. In most patients, intravenous treatment involving a 2 gram bolus of Solu-Medrol produced a precipitous fall in temperature within four hours. Accompanying the temperature change was an improvement in their general physical condition. The hypothermic effect usually lasted approximately 30 hours, after which the temperature would reach a level below the presteroid temperature or would return to the presteroid level. If the sepsis was overwhelming and the patient did not survive, thetemperature response was not as dramatic and lasted approximately eight to ten hours, with no clinical improvement.