The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-06-14
Addison's Disease.

"Addison's disease" said a promi.
nent physician lastnight to Republican,
reporter" is an affection of the supra
renal capsules. 1t is so called from DR..
Thomas Addison, of Guys Hospital,
London, who in 1855 first discovered it."
"What are the %suprarenal capsules,
1octor?" asked the reporter.
"The suprarenal capsules are two
small fiattened glandular bodies of a
yellowish color, situated at the back
part of the abdomen, behind the peri
toneum (the membrane investing the
surface of the abdomen), and immedi-
ately in front of the upper kidney; hence
the name. They are classified under
the head of 'ductless glands" as thRx.
have no excretory duct" ~
"What is the origin of the disease?"
THAT, in the present state of medi-
cal knowledge, is unknown"
1t is a very rare disease, isn't itP"
1t is not common, but is of frequent
occurrence-more, so, in fact, than is
generally recognized, for many cases
escape attention, or are diagnosed as
Different disorders"
81 don't think I ever heard of the
disease until 1 saw recently the an
nouncement that a young son of a prom
inent citizen had died of 'Addison's dis
ease.' Whatare its symptoms, doctor?"
ga form of anemia characterized by
a dingy. or dark d~iscoloration of the
skin. It occurs without any discover
able cause whatever, presents in every
case the same general character, pur-
sues a similar course, and, with n
ly an exception, is followed, after a
variable period, with the same fatal re.
suit"
"What age or sex does it specially
affect?"
cit occurs in both sexes. Generally,
though not exclusively, it attacks per
sons of middle age"
"Can you give me a popular descrip.
ton of itP"
THAT has already been done graph.
cally by DR.. Addison. He says: II
makes its appearance in so slow and
insidious a ann that the patient can
hardly fix the date of his earliest feel.
ing Of languor which shortly becomes
so extreme. The countenance gets
pale, the whites of the eye grow pearly.
the general frame f1abby rather than
wasted; the pulse becomes perhaps
large but remarkably soft and compress.
ible, occasionally with a slight jerk, es'
pecially under the slightest excitement.
There is an indisposition to exertion.
with an uncomfortable feeling of faint
ness or breathlessness on attempting
any exertion. The heart readily palpi
tates and the whole surface of the body
presents a smooth, blanched and waxy
appearance. The lips, gums and tongue
oaaro h1ool1acc onA tho onnofffo fai1S
Extreme languor and faintness super
vene, breathlessness and palpitation'
being produced by the slightest exer
ton or emotion. Some slight swelling
may be seen about the ankles. Occa
sionally the mind wanders. The patien
cannot get out of bed, but the bulkines
of the frame is in singular contrast tt
the exhaustion observable in ever,
other respect"
"How about the discoloration o
skim"
"That pervades the whole surface o
the body, but is most strongly mani
tested on the face, neck and superio
extremities. 1t presents a dingy O
smoky appearance, or various tints o
shades of deep amber or chestnu
brown. Sometimes the. skin become a
dark as a mulatto's."
"What appearance do these bodie
show after deathp"
"In certain cases of Addison's diseas
there is observed in the suprarena
capsules the presence of a scottish, gray
translucent matter, sometimes becom
ing liqnified to a cream-like consistency
and sometimes solidified into a cretace
Gus mass. The deposit replaces tn
tissue of the organ, and, if extensive
involves their Reorganization. Exam
ination after death, however, fails t
reveal LESSONS of important organ
adequate to explain symptoms an
death"
'.Does the discoloration of skin a
ways accompany diseases of the ST.
prarenal c%apsules?"
'By no means invariably. And thi
discoloration may occur without. rens
disease. 1t is, however, so frequent a
accompaniment, that DR.. Addiso
dwells particularly on it."
"And the cure, doctorP"
"There is no cure for Addison's di:
ease known to the profession"
$50 when you find a patient has ST
prarenal disease it is the same as reaG
ing his death warrant, ehP"
1.-THE man who is afflicted with At
dison's disease ought to put his hous
in order. Washington Republican.
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