284
-
(17.) A pathological group of changes identical with Beri-beri may be met
with in children.
(18.) Enteric fever in young children is rare.
(19.) Malaria may be found in infants under 2 weeks of age.
(20.) Diarrhoea is a frequent cause of death in children. Its cause varies
considerably.
(21.) There is good reason to believe PARROT's dictum that "vicious ingesta
constitute the most frequent and potent of all determining causes of infantile mortality.'
"
During the past year attention has been directed to the condition of the ductless glands in regard to the possibility of a relation existing between them and the condition known as marasmus. The investigation so far has been occupied with the appearances presented by the thymus owing to the statements made within the last year or two by HERARD, FRIEDLEBEN and METTENHEIMER and quite recently by RUHRAH that this gland has some definite relation to the state of nutrition of the body.
Opinions vary as to the weight of the thymus at different periods of life, but it may be stated in general terms that its weight at birth rarely exceeds 12-15 grammes in a well developed infant. From this time onwards the weight of the organ increases more or less rapidly, so that about the end of 18 months or 2 years, it reaches 20-30 grammes.
The following is a resume of my investigations in regard to the weight of the gland in cases diagnosed by me as a condition of marasmus and a comparison be- tween these and cases in which a well recognised cause of death was forthcoming.
I.-Infants up to 1 week old.
Normal Thymus.
Weight.
13 grms.
No.
Sex.
1.
M.
Age. 5 days.
2.
M.
3
14
""
3.
F.
13
>>
4.
M.
15
- 19 ∞ 1
"1
"?
Marasmatic Thymus.
Age. 7 days.
No.
Sex.
1.
M.
2.
F.
7
3.
M.
7
15
4.
M.
3
27
13
Cause of Death.
Syphilis.
Sinall-pox. Pneumatosis.
Rupture of Stomach..
Weight. 25 grms.
2.
1
25
3
*1
II. Infants up to 2 weeks old.
Normal Thymus.
No.
Sex.
Age.
Weight.
༣..
M.
10 days.
16 grms.
2.
M.
14
13
""
3.
M.
14
14
27
4.
M.
12
11
>>
Marasmatic Thymus.
Cause of Death.
Congestion of Lungs. Plague, septic.
Do. Br. Pneumonia.
No.
Sex.
1.
M.
Age. 12 days.
Weight.
10 grms.
2.
M.
10
5
"1
3.
M.
10
8
21
4.
F.
9
10
III. Children up to 1 month old.
Normal Thymus.
No.
Sex.
1.
F.
Age. 15 days.
Weight.
16 grms.
2.
F.
20
20
"J
3.
M.
1 month.
23
19
4.
F.
18
""
Cause of Death.
Br. Pneumonia.
Plague pneumonia. Plague, septic. Acute Pleurisy.
Page 390Page 391