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

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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$nature of which, when first seen, could not be positively pronounced upon, insisted, for his own peace of mind, upon being treated until the time for the eruptions had passed. He was, therefore, by his own will and con- sent, put upon mercury, and made the subject of observation. He turned out to have no syphilis, much to his own and my satisfaction. I made myself the subject of experiment to fill the table. Table VII. Patient v. No. of red corpuscles Remarks. iu 1 cubic mm. June 6, 5,365,125. Has averaged gr. j protiodide of mercury daily for four months. Has gained in weight: feels perfectly well. June 27, 5,302,375. Has gradually diminished dose, taking lately gr. I daily. Myself. Sept. 10, 4,775,275. Just from the country, perfectly well. To take \ gr. prot- Sept. 20, 5,572,200. iodide mercury three times a day for two weeks. Sept. 24, 5,175.875. Up greater part of last night with a patient; no appetite for breakfast. Sept. 25, 5,562,062. Slept well and was abundantly hungry for breakfast. Patient v ranked far above average after taking mercury for four months, during most of which time he was perfectly well, for his chan- croid healed kindly; but the result, in his case, was partly due to his living a more regular life, which his chancroid frightened him into. As for myself, I started at about my healthy average (see Table I.), and gained over 700,000 in two weeks. I made no change whatever in my mode of life, and took the extra precaution to get Dr. Stimson to make my count on each occasion, he being ignorant what manner of experi- ment I was subjecting myself to. My loss by one night’s watching was made up by the next night’s rest. Conclusion.—From what has been written, it seems fair to conclude that— 1. 5,000,000 red blood corpuscles in the cubic mm. is a full, high ave- rage for the adult healthy male. Anaemia very rarely goes below 3,000,000 ; fine conditions of physical health reach above 6,000,000. In ordinary seasons, in the city, 4,500,000 would indicate a fair state of health. (Table I.) 2. Mercury decreases the number of the red cells when given in excess, especially in hospitals (Wilbouchewitch). (Tables IV. and VI.) 3. Syphilis diminishes the number of red corpuscles below the healthy standard. (Table II., first counts.) 4. Mercury in small doses continued for a short or for a long period in syphilis, alone or with the iodide of potassium, increases the number of red corpuscles in the blood, and maintains a high standard of the same. (Tables II., III., and V.) 5. Mercury in small doses acts as a tonic upon healthy animals, in-$