172 DISEASES OF THE BLOOD 



The blood separates in coagulating into two layers, a lower 

 layer of red corpuscles and of violet color and an upper layer 

 of milky appearance, grayish white, made up of white cor- 

 puscles and some fibrin. The temperature usually is little 

 changed but toward the end often becomes subnormal. In 

 the last stages hemorrhages occur in the conjunctiva, gums, 

 bowels, etc. 



Diagnosis. — The diagnosis can be made with accuracy only 

 by examining the blood microscopically. In pseudoleukemia 

 the symptoms described also occur but the blood shows no 

 change in the number of white corpuscles. With the aid of 

 the microscope the form of leukemia may also be determined 

 by proper stains. 



In tuberculosis, glanders and in malignant tumors enlarge- 

 ment of lymph glands also appears but the distribution of 

 the enlarged glands is rarely so symmetrical and the accom- 

 panying anemia not so pronounced as in leukemia.' Further- 

 more, by a microscopic examination of the blood, and the 

 application of the proper tests, a differentiation from glanders 

 or tuberculosis can be made. 



Prognosis. — The prognosis in leukemia is bad. No case of 

 the disease correctly diagnosed has ever recovered. 



Treatment. — Treatment in animals should not be attempted, 

 as it will not lead to success. In man arsenic, iron and the 

 .r-rays have been used to prolong life. In human patients 

 leukemia has been known to last for twelve years before 

 causing death. 



PSEUDOLEUKEMIA. HODGKIN'S DISEASE. 



Definition. — Pseudoleukemia is a chronic disease of the 

 blood-forming organs almost identical with leukemia except 

 there^s no increase in the number of white blood corpuscles. 



Occurrence. — Pseudoleukemia occurs in horses and cattle 

 and is much more frequent than leukemia. By some authori- 

 ties pseudoleukemia is supposed to represent a form of 

 leukemia without increase in the number of leukocytes. The 

 true cause of pseudoleukemia is not known. 



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