Abstract: An aqueous hypertonic solution useful in the treatment of a human suffering from a burn injury and the like comprises on the basis of one liter of solution about 200-300 mEq sodium, about 145-215 mEq chloride, about 55-85 mEq bicarbonate or acetate or lactate, the mEq sodium to chloride ratio being 1.4. An example of the above hypertonic solution is an aqueous solution containing per liter 225 mEq sodium, 160 mEq chloride, 73 mEq acetate, about 5 mEq potassium and about 3 mEq magnesium, the solution having a pH of about 8.3, preferably having a pH of about 6.0 upon pH adjustment by the addition of hydrochloric acid.