LEUCOCYTOSIS 197 



In true asthma eosinophilia is marked, and its absence is of value in indi- 

 cating other causes for the condition. Certain skin diseases, especially 

 pemphigus, show eosinophilia. 



Eczema and psoriasis are not apt to give more than 3 or 4% eosinophiles. A 

 rather high degree of eosinophilia is found in mycosis fungoides. 

 Scabies also gives an eosinophilia. 



The proportion of eosinophiles in the blood of children is greater 

 than in that of adults. 



Increase of both eosinophiles and mast cells is found in myelogenous 

 leukaemia. 



LEUKOCYTOSIS. 



It is to an increase in the polymorphonuclears that this term is 

 usually applied, the 'term lymphocytosis or eosinophilia being employed 

 where ^vvhite cells of eosinophile or lymphocyte nature are increased. 

 We have physiological leukocytosis in the latter weeks of pregnancy, 

 also in the new-born, and in connection with digestion. 



Pathological Leukocytosis. Pneumonia. In this disease we have a 

 leukocytosis of 20,000 to 30,000 or higher. The eosinophiles are almost 

 absent. A normal leukocyte count in pneumonia makes a prognosis 

 unfavorable. 



The leukocyte count drops about the time of the crisis, and with 

 the reappearance of eosinophiles is a favorable sign. A moderate 

 leukocytosis occurs in carcinoma and sarcoma. 



Septic processes. The leukocyte count is of great value, especially 

 when we obtain a leukocytosis with 80 to 90% of polymorphonuclears, 

 as in appendicitis, cholecystitis, or other suppurative conditions. 



According to Cabot, leukocytosis varies in infections as follows: 



1. Severe infection good resistance; early, marked and persistent leuko- 

 cytosis. 



2. Slight infection slight resistance; leukocytosis present, but not 

 marked. 



3. In fulminating infections we may have no increase in whites, but a 

 higher percentage of polymorphonuclears. 



4. Slight infection and good resistance may not be productive of leuko- 

 cytosis. 



It is in connection with the question of operation in appendicitis 

 or similar conditions that the matter of a leukocyte count is of prime 

 importance. If there be a leukocytosis but with less than 75% of 



