THE LEUKAEMIAS 



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The leukocyte count is on the average from 200,000 to 500,000. Cases are 

 reported of more than 1,000,000 white cells. The neutrophilic myelocytes make 

 up about 30 to 40% of these and, about equal in number, are found the polymor- 

 phonuclears, while the percentage of the lymphocytes is decreased (2 to 5%) and 

 normal eosinophiles, eosinophilic myelocytes, and large mononuclears make up the 

 remaining percentages. We usually have great numbers of normoblasts. Megal- 

 oblasts may be rarely found. The red count is usually about 2,500,000 and the 

 color index low. 



Lymphatic Leukaemia. -In this we have glandular enlargements, 

 but not such large masses as in Hodgkin's disease. The red cells are 

 usually reduced about one-half and the color index is a little below 

 normal. Normoblasts are rarely found. Myelocytes, as a rule, are 



FIG. 56. Myelogenous leukaemia, m, Myelocyte; p, polymorphonuclear; b, mast 

 cell; n, normoblast. (Cabot.) 



absent, but may amount to 5% of the leukocytes. The predominating 

 leukocyte (75 to 98%) is the small lymphocyte. In acute lymphatic 

 leukaemia the large lymphocytes predominate. 



These however are pathological and differ from the large lymphocyte in not 

 having azur granules and the nucleus stains poorly and is often indented. The 

 leukocyte count is never so great as in myeloid leukaemia, rarely exceeding 125,000. 



Pseudoleukaemia. Hodgkin's disease is usually considered as a 

 disease with marked glandular enlargements, but with a negative blood 

 picture, or at any rate only a moderate leukocytosis with a relative 

 increase of lymphocytes. 



The red cells are usually above 3,000,000. It has been considered 

 that an increased percentage of transitionals (10 to 15%), should a 

 leukopenia coexist, is^characteristic. 



