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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