BLOOD DISORDERS. — The physiolog ical functions of the spleen promptly suggested the use of spleen extract in diseases of the blood, and encouraging results were obtained by Danilewski and Cohnstein. The former had found that the use of a watery extract of the ox's spleen, whether given by the mouth or subcutaneously, gave rise to a notable increase in the number of the red blood corpuscles in dogs and rabbits.
Case of leukaemia treated by injections of splenic extract. There was very little pain, but copious sweating and fear, with which dysprffea was sometimes associ ated. The effect on the blood was a decided increase of the number of leuco cytes immediately after the injection. followed later by an increase, not suffi cient, however, to restore the number to that previously present. This result is not interpreted as an evidence of real improvement in the disease, but rather as an apparent change due to retention of the leueocytes in the capillaries of the lungs. Paul Jacob (Deutsche med. Woch.. Aug. 9, '94).
Statistics of twenty-three cases in which a watery extract (eurythrol) was employed. In one case the disease was leukemia; the others were examples of anmmia or chlorosis. In the case of lenkremia there was only a transitory effect observed, not really therapeutical. On the other hand, in the majority of the cases of anmmia and chlorosis the action of the extract was very striking. The first signs of improvement were seen in the subjective symptoms of debility, loss of appetite. constipation, headache, and dysmenorrhoea. Objectively, the pallor disappeared, and often there was an increase of the hmmoglobin or of the number of the red blood-corpuscles. In many eases the patients gained flesh notably. In many others there were no objective signs of improvement. In no instance was any unpleasant effect ob served. W. Cohnstein (Allgem. med. Central-Zeit., No. 43, '96).
Extract of the spleen. by producing a decided leucocytosis, has a most gratify ing effect upon the course of typhoid fever. In doses of 5 grains, three times a
day. it rapidly and steadily reduces the temperature, ameliorates all the symp toms, and quickly restores the patient to the normal condition. To obtain the best effects from this remedy, however, the percentage of hmmoglobin and the number of red corpuscles muse be kept up to normal. Carpenter (Med. Record, Feb. FT, 1900).
Ovarian Extract.
Four well-known facts are given by Muret as fundamental reasons for the use of ovarian extract as a remedy,— namely, that (1) without ovaries there is no uterine development or menstrua tion; (2) ablation of ovaries in young children causes them to grow up with out any feminine attributes: (3) after puberty loss of ovaries entails cessation of menstruation and atrophy of genital organs; (4) osteomalacia is cured by oliphorectomy,—all generally explained by some indefinite action of the nervous system. But the active principle giving rise to these effects is not defined.
The following statements may be for mulated in regard to the use of ovarian extract:— 1. The ovaries, in common with other glandular organs in the body, exert an occult, but very positive, influence upon the general organism.
2. When this influence is removed, either by the natural atrophy of the glands at the climacteric, by destruction of the ovarian stroma from pathological processes, or by extirpation of the organs, there results a series of distressing phe nomena, including hot and cold spells, nervous and mental manifestations, and neuralgic attacks.
3. The administration of ovarian sub stance or of the extract of ovarian tis sue is promptly and very generally fol lowed by a marked amelioration of these symptoms.
4. The average dose required varies from 2 to 5 grains of the extract adminis tered thrice daily.
5. Excessive doses of the remedy will be followed by cardiac and nervous mani festations, necessitating a diminution in the dose administered or a complete, though temporary, change of treatment.