The treatment of pernicious anaemia with liver and liver extract

Abstract

The scope of the present paper is defined in its title. It is intended to recount briefly the earlier views, on the place of diet in the treatment of Pernicious Anaemia; to indicate the reasons which led to the supposition,'on theoretical grounds, that a diet rich in liver might prove a valuable tnerapeutic measure; and finally to describe the results which ha/ve, in practice, attended the adoption of this mode of treatment, it is not proposed to discuss the question of aetiology, which, far from being clarified by this recent tnerapeutic advance, has been rendered, if possible, even more obscure than before.1. Treatment of patients suffering from Pernicious Anaemia with liver, or a suitable extract of liver, appears to bring about, in practically all cases, a prompt and complete remission.2. The commonest cause of an unsatisfactory result is the use of an insufficient quantity of liver. Complications, such as infection may retard the improvement, as also may previous repeated blood transfusions. Very rarely, a case may fail to respond to liver for no obvious reason, even although the diagnosis of Pernicious Anaemia appears to be correct3. Neural Symptoms usually improve, but to a less extent than those referable to other systems.4. The condition brought about by adequate liver treatment is one of "remission”, not "cure". Apart from the fact that relapse occurs if the treatment is discontinued, the patients (though symptomatic-well) continue to exhibit gastric achylia, and a somewhat abnormal condition of the blood as shown by measurement.