Showing papers in "Indian medical gazette in 1939"

Chronic Ulcerative Colitis.

Abstract: P. N. RAY, b.a., m.b. (Cal.), f.r.c.s. (Eng.) Additional Surgeon, Medical College Hospitals, Calcutta The problem of ulcerative colitis remains unsolved; medical opinion has oscillated between e extremes of optimism and pessimism. There are some, notably Bargen (1935) and Buie I. \"37), who would class it among the conquered ^seases, while others, Hetenyi (1935) for ^stance, would classify it equally emphatically among the incurable diseases. The significance ?*. such startling divergence of authoritative ?Pmion will be missed unless we take into consideration the geographical distribution of the disease and the changes in dietetics and habits, tticluced by the complexities of modern civiliza??n. The consensus of medical opinion is more lnyined to regard it in the same light as Pulmonary tuberculosis; the disease can only be arrested by prolonged treatment, involving rest ^ bed and maintenance of mental peace. Spontaneous intermissions are not uncommon, but intercurrent infections and emotional disurbances have marked deleterious effects on the Pr?greSS of the disease. This paper is based on the study and statisical survey of 120 cases of ulcerative colitis under our care in the Medical College Hospitals the Carmichael Hospital for Tropical ?diseases. The present investigation was undertaken as a supplement to our previous work p1} ' Amcebiasis and Appendicitis' (Banerji, ^?hopra and Ray, 1936), wherein it was observed hat the incidence of non-specific colitis in a small series of cases for sigmoidoscopy was as 1as .43 per cent. -Definition.?Chronic ulcerative colitis may be r??arded as a disease of the large intestines taring the second and third decades of life with characteristic clinical and pathological features ut without any specific bacteriological infection.

Coarctation of the Aorta.

Abstract: tion in which there is narrowing or complete obliteration at or below the isthmus of the aorta; that part of the aorta which extends between the origin of the left subclavian artery and the point of insertion of the ductus arteriosus. Bonnet classifies coarctation of the aorta under two headings :? (1) Infantile type in which there is a diffuse narrowing of the isthmus, and is usually associated with other congenital abnormalities. The ductus arteriosus is patent. In some cases the stenosis may be only of a moderate degree, while in others the isthmus may be absent altogether

Cooley's Erythroblastic Anæmia.

Abstract: condition appears to have a familial tendency as in 10 of the 23 recorded cases, referred to above, a brother or a sister was also affected. All the reported cases have been in young children. The first symptom appears in early infancy, in one case there were typical manifestations at 6 months, but the patients are usually about 3 years old before the disease Is diagnosed, and they usually die before the age of 10, but Ordway, Gorham and Isaacs (1937) reported a child aged 11 years who was still alive. Clinical picture.?The patient has a very characteristic appearance : the features are des-

Malarial Infection in the Placenta and Transmission to the Fœtus.

Abstract: Dr. C. Strickland kindly gave the writer a blood film which was taken from a 15-hour old baby of a mother who had been suffering from Plasmodium vivax infection during pregnancy. The smear showed a large number of parasites (benign tertian) in various stages of development, from the ring stage up to maturity, including some aberrant forms. This finding has already been reported (Das Gupta, 1939). The occurrence of mature schizonts in the blood of the infant 15 hours after birth proves beyond doubt that the infection was acquired in utero

Ages of Epiphysial Union at the Elbow and Wrist Joints Amongst Indian Girls.

Abstract: Lucknow, at the suggestion of the second who was at one time reader in forensic medicine at the Lucknow University. The paper is complementary to that of Lall and Nat (1934). The object of the investigation was to ascertain the ages of the union of epiphyses of Indian girls, as it is commonly believed that they unite at an earlier age than do those of European girls. The skiagraphic method was thought to be preferable to the purely anatomical method of the study of the epiphysial union of long bones, as investigations could be carried out on a larger number of normal subjects whose ages were definitely known. We had to face great difficulties in obtaining subjects for this work, on account of the purdah system, and also of the prejudices of parents. However, we managed to enlist the co-operation of three local girls' schools to supply the material, and we examined 125 girls of different communities, varying in age from 10 to 18 years. The total number of skiagrams taken was 250, both antero-posterior and lateral views being taken to make sure of the unions. It is difficult to define in a skiagram the point at which union may be said to be complete, bu for our purpose an epiphysis was considered as definitely united only if the epiphysial space was, in bony architecture and density, ind1?\" tinguishable from the epiphysis and diaphysis in its neighbourhood. Cases of recent union, where a thin line was still seen in the place of epipw' sial cartilage, were classified as marginal cases. We have divided the girls into eight agegroups of 10-11, 11-12, 12-13, 13-14, 14-15, 15-1?' 16-17, and 17-18 years.

An Abdominal Tumour caused by Gnathostoma spinigerum (Owen, 1836).

Abstract: Macroscopic, description.?The specimen consisted of an irregular reddish-yellow firm tumour and a living round worm. The tumour measured '?0 X 6.5 X 3.0 cm. and was situated in the great omentum below the greater curvature oi Mie stomach. It was apparently covered with smooth dull-looking peritoneum and at one place was overlaid by a few dark-red blood ('lots. On serial section it was found to be c?mposed of greyish moist firm shiny tissue marked with manv small, scattered. fellow, opaque areas and it con-

A Note on Some Cases of Lathyrism in a Punjab Village.

Abstract: prions malady which had crippled them. The pillagers attributed this to the curse of certain kadhus who had been abused and turned away *rom the village by them. Suspicious of an ?utbreak of an unusual disease like infantile Paralysis or scurvy, I left for the village. Soon after my arrival I was surrounded by a crowd 01 Villagers many of whom had walked up to me ^ith difficulty with a waddling gait and supported

Clinical and Prognostic Factors in Typhoid in India.

Abstract: ? nite bacteriological evidence were included \ the examination; by that is meant all cases which enteric organisms were isolated or those cases showing a Widal agglutination at least .in 200 dilution. This may be an insufficiently JJgh concentration for definite diagnosis: though ^0X (1937) considers that any agglutination JVer 1 in 50 should be considered positive, and J-ewm (1938) states that after examination ol ver twenty-thousand sera, he considers that,^m Tre llninoculated, such as were these, a 1 m 1UU ? and 1 in 200 0 agglutination are suitable lor ^lagnosis. Taking these figures he has found an error of under 3 per cent. I agree that a \"retain rise in blood agglutinins can occur in an

The Ætiology of Tropical Macrocytic Anæmia.

Abstract: as far as the macrocytic anaemias are concerned, is dependent on the work of Castle, Wilkinson, Wills and others in America and Great Britain, a very comfortable place has been found for tropicai macrocytic anaemia under the heading ?f ' errors of haemopoiesis', as a deficiency dyscrasia due to a deficiency, relative or absolute, ?f Castle's extrinsic factor in the diet. The simplicity of this classification is attractive, and, further, a considerable amount of experimental clinical evidence has been adduced to show, if not the identity, at least the very close relationship of the deficient substance of tropical macrocytic anaemia and Castle's extrinsic factor {e.g., Strauss and Castle, 1932). Wills (1931), who at first seemed to be inclined to the view that the deficient substance in tropical macrocytic anaemia and the extrinsic factor were identical, later (Wills, 1934) was sceptical, and now (Wills and Evans, 1938) favours the view that the former may be an independent haemopoietic Principle. The present writer (1936) put forward the suggestion that tropical macrocytic anaemia might be due to deficiency of an independent haemopoietic principle. When his paper was being written, Greenspon's (1936) paper had ?nly just appeared, and the writer felt that any theory on the aetiology of a macrocytic anaemia niust be considered in the light of Greenspon's work, as well as that of Castle. Further, in Greenspon's theory there was no place for tropical macrocytic anaemia, so that had this theory been accepted the aetiology of tropical macrocytic anaemia would need to have been reconsidered. Ungley (1936), criticizing the present writer's suggestion that this anaemia might be due to the absence of an independent haemopoietic principle, wrote ' this view rests partly on the assumption of the probable correctness of Greenspon's theory', which he then proceeded by quoting recent experimental work to uPset, as subsequently other workers have done more completely. Beyond the fact that Greenspon's theory made some reconsideration

Liquor Arsenicalis in the Treatment of Chorea.

Abstract: ment, ' The treatment of chorea by large doses of arsenic was invented by an unqualified practitioner, who, on his death-bed, disclosed the secret of his success to Dr. Murray The secret was this : ' Fowler's solution, in 15 to 20 drops doses, might generally be given to children from 10 years old upwards for a few days without disturbing the stomach and that so given it was an almost infallible cure for chorea within a

The Viability of Vibrio Choleræ in Natural Waters.

Abstract: Workers who have examined the viability of Vibrio cholera? in water are agreed that whereas the vibrio can live for a short time in untreated natural waters, it survives for longer periods in samples that had been previously boiled. Hankin (1896) attributed the bactericidal effect to the acid reaction of the river waters. d'Herelle (1926) suggested that the disappearance of vibrios from natural waters was due to the presence of specific choleraphage present in these waters. Later, experimental data of d'Herelle, Malone and Lahiri (1930) did not support this opinion. These workers examined the viability of cholera vibrios in waters collected from

The Vital Capacity of the Bengalees.

Abstract: The vital capacity of individuals has, in recent years, been attracting considerable attention of medical practitioners regarding the diagnosis and prognosis in various diseases of the heart and lungs. Paramount importance has also been laid on selecting candidates for the air service where a minimum standard has been fixed for admission of cadets. In diseases of the lungs, specially in pulmonary tuberculosis, the vital capacity is definitely lowered and the reaction of patient to treatment can be judged by the increase or decrease of the vital capacity. As early as 1846, Hutchinson (1846) observed that the vital capacity in phthisis was definitely lowered. A diminution of 16 per cent below normal was looked upon as suspicious and in late cases a diminution of 2,000 c.cm. might be found. Arnold (1855) believed, that the vital capacity was not only important in diagnosis but also on the severity of infection and on the results of treatment. Dreyer and Burrell (1922) specially investigated the importance of vital capacity in diagnosis and prognosis of patients suffering from diseases of the heart and lungs. The vital capacity was diminished in those diseases in

Clinical Observations on Weil's Disease in India.

Abstract: report seems justified. It is true that epidemics clinically suggestive of Weil's disease have been reported from time to time (Tucker in Bombay in 1907; Franklin in Kashmir in 1913; Paramanand in Bombay in 1922; Pandit and Rao in South India in 1932) but it was not until 1937 that Das Gupta and Chopra reported the first proven case of leptospirosis in India from Calcutta. Since then, Das Gupta (1938) has reported five more cases of leptospiral jaundice in Calcutta. Knowles (1928) and Taylor and Goyle (1931) had foreseen the possible existence of Weil's disease in India and bacteriological advancement in the country has at last fulfilled the vision of these workers. Weil's disease is a serious malady and its mortality rate as recorded by different writers varies from 10 to 50 per cent of all cases. Specific treatment in the form of antiserum will

Poisoning by Bite from Bungarus Cæruleus with Recovery

Abstract: At Kunjah, six miles from Gujrat, he did not find any snake charmers and he decided to find some snakes for himself. He came upon a dark steel-black snake about two feet long with regular white ringed markings all down its body. He controlled the reptile with a small stick and then caught hold of it with his hand about a span's length below the head, whereupon it immediately turned round and bit him on the hypothenar eminence of the right palm, he then let go his hold and had to shake the creature off which shows that the bite was a fairly sustained one. This occurred at about 8 a.m. on the 24th July, 1938. He immediately sucked the wounds and tied a ligature round his wrist. He apparently felt no effects local or otherwise during the morning or afternoon, but by 9 p.m. the same night he came to the civil hospital, Gujrat, with fully developed symptoms of colubrine

Atypical Amyloid Disease of the Liver.

Abstract: Hospital, Madras, during the past twenty-five years. When cases are detected on the autopsy table, unsuspected during life, it becomes evident that association with chronic suppuration and tissue destruction are not the invariable antecedents of amyloid degeneration. It is stated that amyloid disease may be found in association with malaria after long-continued infection or repeated attacks (Gibson, 1936; Boyd, 1938). Such post-mortem revelation has resulted in the necessity to suspect amyloid disease, even though no apparent basis for this diagnosis is noted (Bannick et al., 1933). It is possible that the condition escapes recognition because it is not suspected.

Investigation into the Natural Breeding Places of the Siphunculina Funicola Fly, in Assam.

Abstract: The reason for carrying out this investigati011 into the natural breeding places of the Siphuft' culina funicola fly is twofold. Firstly, because accurate knowledge of the life history of this fly is considered of importance, owing to probable connection with the spread of diseases* such as epidemic conjunctivitis and possibly yaws, and secondly, because the eye-fly ft'0111 April to October is a definite nuisance to every one in this district. For two years, up to the 24th March, 1937, th? writer carried out an investigation, during nls

A Simple Means of Preventing Spider-Lick.

Abstract: We gladly took the opportunity represented by a large collection of the insects that were forwarded from the same source to try out the hypothesis. A powerful tincture prepared from the specimens and matured since May 1938 was used for the experiments on two volunteers. In each experiment approximately equal quantities of the fluid were used for it and for the control. Experiment I.?In the first experiment both forearms of volunteer A were painted with the tincture. One hour afterwards the left forearm

Some Anomalies in the Morphology of Plasmodium vivax occurring in a Newborn Baby.

Abstract: Fig. 1.?Normal red blood corpuscle. . , .... , t. Fig. 2.?Young ring form showing a minute accessory chromatin dot in add main chromatin mass. Fig. 3.?Four ring forms in one corpuscle. cUr>w Figs. 4 to 6.?Growing forms exhibiting amoeboid changes. igures an multiple infections of the corpuscle. Fig. 7.?Developing sehizont contained in a fimbriated and st.ppled eorpusele. Fig. 8.?Full-grown schizont with twelve masses of chromatin. Fig. 9.?Two schizonts in the same corpuscle. Fig. 10.?Mature schizont containing eight merozoites Figs. 11 and 12.?Ruptured schizonts. Fig. 13.?Female gametocyte. EXPLANATION OF PLATE X

Eradication of Hymenolepis nana infection.

Abstract: Consultation of the standard books on tropical medicine and parasitology reveals the fact that most of the usual anthelminthics (filix mas in some form or other, oil of chenopodium, thymol, hexylresorcinol and carbon tetrachloride) are all casually referred to by one or other author as being effective, but no detail is given. One of the most remarkable things about this subject, is that in the sections devoted to treatment no book