Thompson: The Cardiac Case 



19 



CASE E.H. One patient has had heart trouble for a number 

 of years. The cause of her condition was unknown until it devel- 

 oped that at least two of her children had heart trouble. One 

 little boy has a definite congenital malformation of the heart, but 

 the nature of the baby's heart trouble is not known as yet. So 

 far all blood tests for syphilis have been negative, and the charac- 

 ter of the family would argue against the disease. The doctor, 

 however, knowing the history, feels sure that it is a luetic infec- 

 tion which may have been inherited. 



CASE MRS. L. This woman came to the dispensary some 

 years ago complaining of shortness of breath and nose trouble. 

 She had always lived a moral life and could scarcely believe it 

 possible that syphilis could be at the bottom of all her trouble. 

 She has now completed her third year of anti-luetic treatment 

 and her old troubles have disappeared. Her shortness of breath 

 was due to heart trouble and probably some asthma. This w^as 

 a case of inherited syphilis, perhaps. 



CASE MRS. R. A feeble-minded syphilitic woman was 

 another heart patient referred to the Department for aid in 

 care. She has been one of the most trying of all the patients. 

 She was difficult to handle because of the feeble-mindedness. She 

 refused to be treated, so no progress was possible. She has been 

 unable to do hard work for some time. Her own life and the 

 lives of all about her are made miserable because she will not 

 be helped. 



CASE MRS. M. This patient was referred because of her 

 luetic and heart condition. She has been able to live with little 

 discomfort from the weakened heart by being careful. She had 

 not been in the dispensary for some time until about two months 

 ago. She had done some extra work then and was not feeling so 

 well. Soon after that she had to be taken to the hospital for 

 another course of treatment. Here, as in the other cases, the 

 heart condition would be improved could the infection be cured 

 OF checked. 



There is some heart trouble attributed to alcohol and drugs. 

 In these cases there is probably a gradual degeneration of the 

 organ. As would be imagined, these are very difficult to handle. 

 The habit must be broken and then treatment given. Any man or 

 woman who has heart trouble from alcohol or drugs is going to 

 ^rgue a long time before confessing to the habit. 



