XXIV 
A SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF PERNICIOUS 
ANEMIA 
By CHAS. A. ELLIS, M.D., Denver, Colo. 
Pernicious anemia is characterized by a low percent- 
age of hemoglobin in each red blood corpuscle, an un- 
usually small number of red blood cells per cubic milli- 
meter of blood, while the proportion of white cells varies 
from below normal] to several thousand above normal. 
The sizes and shapes of all the cells, and especially the 
red cells, are more or less markedly irregular. The color 
index is one plus or more. The hydrochloric acid in 
the stomach is less than normal or entirely absent. 
All cases usually show a temperature variation of from 
one to three degrees from the normal. There is usually 
a peculiar lemon color of the skin. Marked asthenia 
and malnutrition necessarily is the rule. Relapses or 
exacerbations of this condition are very frequent. 
THE CHIEF CAUSE OF PERNICIOUS ANEMIA 
The essential underlying cause of pernicious anemia 
undoubtedly is chronic septic absorption from various 
sources, viz., syphilis, tuberculosis or chronic appendi- 
citis; a septic gall bladder; abscess of the prostate, fal- 
lopian tubes or pelvis; gonorrhea; infected tonsils, 
pyorrhea and subdental infections; malaria; rheuma- 
tism, etc. 
The diagnosis is quite easily made by the blood count, 
the hemoglobin test, the color index, the estimation of 
free hydrochloric acid in the stomach. The blood find- 
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