Enteral feeding with 25% dextrose-4.25% Freamine II (TPN) improves the survival of malnourished animals to normal levels after hemoglobin-E. coliadjuvant peritonitis, whereas intravenous feeding does not. To determine whether intravenous feeding maintained a high survival rate in previously well-nourished animals, 81 rats received TPN via gastrostomy or intravenous infusion for 12 days. They were then fasted for 24 hours and given a septic challenge. Gastrostomy-fed animals survived the challenge significantly better than intravenously fed animals. Enteral feeding appears to be important in producing a high survival rate after hemoglobin-E. coliadjuvant peritonitis.