LEII'COCYTHZE'MIA (Neo-Bat.. from (1k. Vetch, teuk0s, white Ki..7 Of, kytos, cell Leiria, blood). A disease characterized by an in crease in the number of white corpuscles in the blood, together with changes in the bone-marrow, spleen, and lymphatic glands. The disease was tirst noted by Bennett of Edinburgh, who con sidered the affection due to the presence of pus in the blond, and gave it its name. In the same year Virehow of Wiirzburg published his observa tions upon the disease and was the first nem rately to recognize and describe it. lle gave it the name 'leultremia.' Virehow's theory of the pathogenesis has been adopted. viz.. that it is pri marily a disease of the blood-making organs. and that the conditions of the blood are secondary. The disease is common among the working classes, and the majority of the eases occur be tween the twentieth and fiftieth years. It is twice as common among men as among women. Ma laria, syphilis, and traumatism are supposed to have influence as predisposing causes; but there is great reason to believe that the disease is essen tially infectious in its nature. The symptoms of the disease are pallor, or an ashen color; pal pitation of the heart ; dyspnwa upon exertion: en largement of the lymphatic glands, in bundles, most frequently in the neck: great enlargement of the spleen, with tenderness in the splenie re gion: enlargement of the liver; diarrluea; nerv ous disturbances, including headache. languor, depression, delirium, or even Mania; a tendency to haanorrhage; deafness, and vertigo. An exam
ination of the blood will readily determine the presence of the disease. and will decide whether the ease in hand is of the myclogenons or the lymphatic variety of the disease. In the former, which is the more frequent form, there is an ex cess of the large namonnelear cells. especially of the myeloeytes: and also large numbers of nucle ated red eorpuscles, notably of megaloblasts. In the lymphatic variety there is an unusual propor tion of lymphocytes of the ordinary variety, or rather large, with paler nuclei and almost wholly without granules; while myeloeytes and nucle ated red corpuscles are present in very small numbers. Leueoeythmmia is almost invariably fatal. The disease may run a course of from five to eight years, though the average duration is less than three years. Amelioration of the symp toms may be secured by treatment in sonic cases. Freedom from care, change of climate. a diet in which carbohydrates and fats are prominent, arsenic. quinine, bitter tonics, and iron are all serviceable. Cold douehes to the splenic region as well as faradization or galvani zation of this region have relieved the pain or dis comfort experienced there. Anorexia, indiges tion, eonstipation. and demand special treatment. Consult. Ehrlich. Leak-antic, Pseudo leakiimir, (Vienna, 1901).