LEUCOCYTHLEMIA AND LEUK,EMIA. Extracts of the bone-marrow and of the spleen have been employed in the treat ment of leucocythmmia, but so far there has been no great success, and the reason of the failure is obvious when we remem ber that in leucocythTmia the bone-mar row is hypertrophied, not atrophied. It is not probable that glycerin extracts of marrow will prove valuable, since there is already too much marrow-activity.
(H. C. Wood.) Excellent results from the treatment of a case of leukemia, in a lad of 12, with bone-marrow taken raw and spread on bread. After a few days the method was not particularly disagreeable. The improvement little short of marvelous. Rigger (London Lancet, Sept. 22, '94).
Good effects apparent within a few days. A. McLane Hamilton (N. Y. Med. Jour., Jan. 12, '95).
Case of splenic myelogenous leukemia in which bone-marrow did not prove curative. Arsenic had also been used, but its physiological effects caused it to be stopped. Beneficial effects of marrow shown, however, by reduction of spleen and blood-count. C. E. Nammack (N. Y. Hied. Rec., Dec. 14. '95).
Case of leucocythannia in which, dur ing seventeen days' treatment under arsenic (2 to 12 minims, t. i. d., liq.
potass. arsenit.), no improvement oc curred. A dessertspoonful of ox's bone marrow spread on toast being given three times a day with arsenic, a remarkable diminution in the number of leucocytes followed, and continued after the arsenic was stopped. At the end of eight weeks the erythrocytes numbered 4,170,000, the leucocytes 25,000 (1 to 167). The pa tient left the hospital and subsequently ceased taking the marrow. At the end of six months she returned with the spleen larger than ever; the erythrocytes num bering 3.670,000; leucocytes, 225,000. Again given the tabloids of bone-marrow and began to improve at once. Four weeks later the patient became very ill, breathless, pulse rapid, temperature 102° F., pulmonary congestion and pleurisy, oedema of face and upper and lower ex tremities. The patient died a week later. At the autopsy there was a typical leueo cythernic spleen. \Allah (Brit. Med. Jour., Apr. 4, '96).