ADDISON'S DISEASE. 53 



organs, and since, too, there is no doubt as to the dependence of 

 liquid discharges upon disturbance of innervation. 



The convulsions and other grave nervous disorders which some- 

 times occur are difficult to account for. One of my patients had 

 repeated epileptic attacks. Post-mortem examination usually affords 

 no clew as to the origin of these symptoms. 



The temperature of the body is not increased, unless there be 

 some complication of a febrile character. 



The beat of the heart and the pulse is accelerated, and toward 

 the close of the malady is often extremely feeble. The great fre- 

 quence of the pulse stands in striking contrast with the lowness of 

 the temperature, and, if no note be taken of the latter, it is liable 

 to cause an erroneous impression that there is fever. 



The progress of the disease is almost always chronic. There are 

 but two or three known cases where the process has run an acute 

 course, speedily terminating in death. 



Although there are a few cases in which a temporary improve- 

 ment has been observed, yet we have no well-authenticated instance 

 of complete recovery ; and death must be regarded as the most fre- 

 quent, and probably, indeed, as the sole termination of this malady. 



TKEATMENT. Of course, the treatment of Addison's disease 

 must be a mere treatment of symptoms. In one of my cases it was 

 very evident that good nourishment and careful nursing were not 

 without a beneficial effect upon the course of the disorder. The 

 patient, a poor servant, was repeatedly received at the clinic, in a 

 state of extreme emaciation, and unfit for any labor. He always 

 gained considerably in weight in the course of a few weeks, and so 

 far recovered his strength that he could be employed in a variety 

 of occupations ; until, three years and a half after his first recep- 

 tion at my clinic, he suddenly and unexpectedly died in one of the 

 above-mentioned epileptif orm attacks. 



