Vol. 60, 1909 - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

256 THE CHARLOTTE MEDICAL JOURN.J
blood of one patient presented a typical pic- loathsome diseases that afflicts the human
ture of pernicious anemia: hemoglobin 35 race,
per cent., red cells 862,000, whites 9,400, Fourth. That it should be expected t«|
polynuclear cells 59.4, small mononuclear destroy the variolous virus in the vesicles
32.8, large mononuclear 4.8, eosinophiles thus rendering the scabs and scales h
0.4, myelocytes 2.8. In counting 500 white less, reducing thereby to a minimum tt
cells, there were noted 34 mormoblasts, 15
megaloblastsand 5 free nuclei. The autopsy
dangers of infection from a
smallpox,
given case
findings corroborated the clinical picture.
Exclusive of Ibis case the blood findings Epidemic Pneumonia with a Few Suj
are of some interest in thirteen other cases gestions on Management.— Dr. Stuai
in which partial or complete examinations Mann says that usually in the beginning
were made. Hemoglobin varied from 65 is well to act on the portal system with mil^
per cent, to 95 per cent., red cells from chloride of mercury and watch the elimina
2,.500,000 to 5,292,000. The white cells tion frequently, especially if there i
were decreased in 2 cases, slightly increas disposition to fermentation. In several
ed in 4, and within normal limits in 6. In my cases it was necessary to use salol an^
the differential counts no constant findings turpentine or the sulpho-carbolates.
of interest were noted. Excluding the When the first sound of the heart become
above-mentioned cases, nucleated reds were less distinct and the pulmonic second sound
found in three of ten cases in which com- loses its accentuated character or marked
plete counts were made. One of the chief nervousness order alcohol combined wit|
points of interest in this connection is the nourishment, and strychnia with carb
fact that nucleated red cells may be found of creosote, every four hours. If this dc
comparatively early in the disease and when not suffice give digitalin, with or withou
hemoglobin is normal or above. A more strychnia, and where the urinal secretion i
extended study of the blood may yield some scant combine spartein in grain doses,
information of value. the above is not satisfactory and there
Note on Pellagra In Maryland.— Dr. especial cardiac depression and pulmonai
W. S. Thayer says that the disease is met edema, give adrenalin-chloride, ten
with in two main forms; (l) as d.n acute twenty drops hypodermically to be repeate
tvphoidal condition; (2) as a milder chronic, as indicated. He especially mentions ths
and commonly recurrent malady. this is a most excellent remedy, as his
In the first form the disease is acute and suits with it have been uniform in equali|
fatal, running its course in a few weelcs ing the circulation and relievinc
with active delirium, fever and uncontroU- edema,
able diarrhoea.
In case of shock with pulmonary hemd
In the second form the disease may run rhage, in which the heart is "running aw^
a chronic course with relapses lasting, in witn itself" so to speak, acting like an
some cases, as long as 25 years. The gine without a governor, the author knoy
severer cases run, however, a much shorter of nothing that equals the adrenalin-chl|
course. With each relapse emaciation, ride,
anaemia and debility increase, and with the
progression of severe nervous and mental
symptoms the patient becomes profoundly
Abstracts of the Leading article
of the month.
cachectic, demented and bed-ridden, partly, Bees' Stings and Rheumatism.—Walj
as Neusser has said, because of weakness, er ( British Medical Journal > has iuves
partly because of changes in the cord. gated the statement that the sting of
The Texas Medical Journal, Aufrusl, 1909. will cure chronic rheumatism.
Bichloride ol Mercury Baths in the ed information from country
He colle
doctors.
Treatment of Variola.— Dr. R. II. L. Bibb farmers and from Dr. Fere in Austria, wl
concludes: treated 700 cases of chronic rheumati|
First. That the patient sponged over every with bee's stings during the last thi:
four hours, or as the cases indicate, with years. That the subject is worthy of ea^
1-500 warm solution of bichloride of mer- est consideration is evidenced from the 1
cury and his eyes, nose, mouth, ears and ports collected by Walker. Apeculiarf^
throat irrigated with a warm saturated so- brought out in these investigations
lution of boracic acid is the rational treat- knowledge that sufferers from rheumatii
ment of variola. are verj' little susceptible to the bee's stii
Second. That its use will prevent itching, The active principle in the bee's poison
foul odors, pustulation, abscesses and pit- probably formic acid, wliich is found it
ting. poison with an alkaloid. F'urlher study
Third. That it will greatly lessen the mor- the subject is advisable, and hypoderii
tality and suffering from one of the most injections of the poison could be tried.