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

REVIEW OF SOUTHERN MEDICAL LITERATURE. 40.>
tion. It is always of paramount import- carry us far until we have recognized the
pnce ill any case of pregnancy to know equal if not greater necessitv for rational
what the condition of the kidneys may be. and phvsiological treatment of the skin.
hence in all cases the urine should be re- Linen, cotton and silk undergarments can
peatedly examined. If albumin appears in be made, and are made, so as to imprison
small quantity, and there are no casts, with air in their meshes. Such garments are
no history of a previous nephritis, and no every whit as warm as flannel to which
general systemic disturbance, dietetic and they are superior in their possession of those
hygienic management may be sufficient, absorptive and ventilating properties of
Meat should be eaten but every other day, which Annuel is so conspicuously devoid.
large draughts of water should be systematically
drunk, proper and adequate underclothing
should be worn, and laxatives
Virginia Medical Semi-Monthlv, Sept. 2Atli.
1909.
should be taken regularlv. „ .. ^ ,,^ ,^ ^^ ,^
Pellagra.— Dr. \V. \' . Drewry quotes Y)\-.
Notes Gathered From a Study of Three Bardin's findings on postmortem examina-
Hundred Cases ol Small Pox.-Dr. M. tion of a case as follows, the brain and
Cooke believes that small pox can be trans- spinal cord being sent to Dr. Flexner, of
mitted by the mosquito and sites the follow- Rockefeller Institute, New York:
in?:
During July, 1901, there were about two
hundred and fifty cases of variola in River-
Chronic pericarditis; hypertrophy of left
ventricle: very marked chronic fibrous myo-
carditis; cloudy swelling of heart muscle;
side Hospital, North Brothers Island. This chronic endocarditis. Chronic adhesive
island is situated at the foot of East i38th
St., New York City. At this time mosquitoes
and flies were numerous. During a
pleurisy, both lungs; atelectasis of lower
lobe, left lung; old, healed calcareous tu-
berculous foci both lungs; chronic passive
stiff breeze one day several mosquitoes and congestion both lungs; chronic passive conflies
were blown over to the Borough of the gestion abdominal viscera. Cloudy swell-
Bronx, about a mile away. This was fol- ing of the liver. Atrophy of iho stomach.
lowed by an epidemic of variola in that
locality. Was this epidemic caused by
Acute duodenitis. Chronic atrophic enter-
itis; acute enteritis with erosions. Chronic
either of these insects, or did the epidemic and sub acute colitis. Chronic appendioriginate
in some other way? It is reason- citis. Arterio-sclerotic nephritis, both kidable
to suppose that either might hav^ been neys. Arterio sclerosis and atheroma of all
the etiological factor. tli(,>ugh the author is the arteries, extraordinarily marked in the
inclined to l)elieve that mosquitoes trans- anterior coronary,
mined the disease. Flies that had soiled
,„,^^„„3, ,rritalion-Treatment.-Dr.
the.r feet with the .small pox pustules, etc., ^. ^ ^^^^.^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^,1 ^^
could easily carry the contagion. Mosqui-
^^^^ ourselves with the new fruits and
toes could also carry it in that way, but he
vegetables, and frequently tax our digestive
beheves that they transmitted it by inocu-
^ ^^^tus to the utmost; in fact, we ingest
lation Several times the author has been
^^^^ quantities of food as to give nature
mocuated by mosquitoes and as a result a
^ore than she can use in overcoming the
pustule would form This was not uncom-
„^,^^^i ^^^^^^ j„ ^1^;^ ^^y our bowels
mon in Riverside Hospita l.
become overloaded with unnecessary ma-
... ,, „ ,, ,, ,. .
GaiUards Southan Medicine,
c- ^.
Sept.,
,r,r,n
1909.
terial which fumishes au excellent culturc
^^gdium for the toxin forming bacteria.
Tubercle and Underwear.— Dr. L. Wil- Then follows the inevitable fermentative
liains says that if this demon is to be cheat- process, and toxins are made and thrown
ed, the cominunity must be purged of this out in large quantities, not only to irritate
preposterous heresy. 'I'he skin must be the intestinal mucosa, but, if allowed to retrained
by cold baths and exposure to other main, to be absorbed, causing a general
cold influences adequately to perform its autoinfection with the many accompanying
contractile duties. Underclothing must be symptoms and discomforts,
in consonance with physiological princi- When such a case is taken in hand early
pies: that is, it must be warm, absorbent it is usually an easy matter to combat it.
and ventilated. Nature did- not intend us My treatment in such cases is to rid the
to live in hot houses, neither did she impose bowel of its contents with draughts of a
clothing upon us. If we would live health- saline-effervescent laxative containing 60
fully and allow our children to develop per cent, of chemically pure magnesium
normally we must revert to natural condi- sulphate. Continue this at half hour interlions
so far as the exigencies of civilized vals in from one to three teaspoonful doses
life will ])ertnil us. The necessity for pure until one of more watery bowel evacuations
air is gaining recognition, but it will not follow. When assured that the bowel is