The effect of small doses of mercury in modifying the number of the red blood corpuscles in syphilis : a study of blood-counting with the hématimètre / by E.L. Keyes.

  • Keyes, E. L. (Edward Lawrence), 1843-1924.
Date:
1876
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The effect of small doses of mercury in modifying the number of the red blood corpuscles in syphilis : a study of blood-counting with the hématimètre / by E.L. Keyes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    Patient o. No. of red corpuscles in 1 cubic mm. Remarks. Aug. 20, 4,612,125. Oct. 4, 5,547,500. Patient p. Syphilis several years’ standing. Has taken a vast amount ot iodides for syphilitic hemiplegia, mania, etc. Physical condition and appetite at present fair; has been taking gr. ^ of the biniodide of mercury, and gr. xxvij of the iodide of sodium, t. i. d. Has continued medicine steadily, improving in physical appearance. Aug. 27, 6,444,515. In magnificent physical condition. Has taken mercury continuously for nearly three years, and continues to take it until his wife, who is pregnant with her first child, shall have been delivered. Is taking gr. v iodide of potassium, gr. biniodide of mercury, t. i. d. Sept. 17, 6,226,350. Has reduced iodide of potassium to 2*- grains at a dose. Patient q. Sept. 22, 4,712,525. Large man, not anaemic. Cliancre twelve years ago; no treatment for many years ; threatening of carious disease of bones of the nose and of paraplegia. To take mixed treatment of biniodide of mercury gr. T^, iodide of potas- sium gr. vijss. Oct. 22, 5,400,000. Improvement undoubted, especially of nose. Patient r. Sept. 22, 4,888,125. Old syphilis; general condition fair; persistent mild tuberculo-ulcerative lesion. Has been taking inunctions, with gr. biniodide of mercury and gr. v iodide of potassium, t. i. d. Sept. 28, 4,555,650. For one week has taken gr. xx iodide of potassium, and gr. 4Xq bichloride of mercury, t. i. d. Eruptions worse. Not considering any effect the iodides might have had, it will be noticed in these 9 cases, that 7 of them, when first counted, ranged below the normal standard of 5,000,000. That it was not the mercury which pro- duced this effect must be evident upon a careful perusal of the table. Patients,;', k, l, m, o, r, were suffering from a continuation of symptoms of syphilis which treatment had not been able to remove, were more or less blighted by the disease. Patient q belonged to the same class, but had taken no mercury for nearly twelve years, and indeed, gained over 600,000 in his count by taking mercury for a month. The two patients who counted high were in perfect health, and both were continuing treatment simply from fear that, if they did not, some trouble might arise which would affect their pregnant wives and involve their children. One had a small scaly patch, the other absolutely nothing as an evidence of syphilis ; and patient p made the best count I ever ob- tained from any one, and had been taking mercury continuously for three years. The other patient reached over 6,000,000 after taking mercury almost uninterruptedly for three and a half years. Patients m, p, and even q, therefore, speak loudly in favour of the pro- longed use of mercury. Patients j and r were severe, inveterate cases of disease, and poor specimens of the effect of treatment clinically, as well as microscopically.