The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-22
BLEEDS AT EVERY PORE.
ST. Louis Woman Afflicted With a
Rare Disease.


st. Louis, Nov. 22.-NIiss Mary E. Riley.
! a saleswoman at Barrs, is at the May
field sanitarium, suffering from a rare
disease, known as hemOrrhagic diathesis,
or hemen ophilia- Those afflicted with
this disease are called ''bleeders.''
The patient bleeds from the nose, ears,
gums, stomach and every mucuous mem
brane. The blood even comes from whites
of the eyes, escapes from veins of the
skin and spreads beneath the skin. This
does not exude and is eventually absorb
ed.
Miss Riley has been a "bleeder'' at in
tervaIs for four years. At first she was
attended by a physician for an attack
like the present one, but less severe. At
intervals since she has had attacks of
varying severity. The present attack has
lasted several days.
One day last week her physicians work
ed for six hours in vain efforts to
staunch the flow of blood.
Monday she was removed to the sani-
tarium Monday night she was seized
with an alarming hemOrrhage, which
threatened to prove fatal.
The paleness of her cheeks was accen-
tuated by the red which came from the
corners of her mouth, nose and ears and
dyed the sheets. Three nurses were kept
busy, and it was some time before the
flow was stopped.
When the blood supply is almost ex-
hausted the flow ceases, but as soon as
new blood is formed the weakened walls
of the veins yield again aud hemOrrhages
reoccur.
Strange to say, the victim of this rare
disease is a healthy-looxing young wo-
man, weighing 10 pounds when not suf-
fering from the effects of a hemorrhage
At such times she is reduced and her
1,a
whiteness of sheets. There is little vital
ity left, but her physician has hopesl Of
her recovery.
Miss Riley is the patient of DR.. G. H.
Powell, Taylor avenue and ST. Louis
place. He refused from professional eth
les to discuss her case, but he talked free
ly of the disease
HemophiIia," he said, ''is a somewhat
rare disease, but still it is well known to
the profession. I have met with three
cases in my practice. It is hereditary,
and its victims are known as 'bleeders.'
1t is propa gated through the female
branch of a family, but the females
are seldom the victims of it. On an av-
erage there are from eleven to thirteen
males affected to one female-some au-
thorities say eleven to others thirteen.
THE disease invariably skips gener-
alton. 1t is a curious fact that the dis
Germans than any other people.
THE disease is attributed to various
causes. The most probable theory is that
it is due to a weakening of the walls of
the blood vessels, mostly the capillary
vessels: although sometimes it is arterlal
and veinous. If the disease develops in
childhood the sufferer rarely lives to at
tain maturity. If the disease does not
develop until the age of maturity final
recovery is much more likely.
Another cause given is an increased
blood pressure, due to 4 too rapid action
of the heart. Generally 'bleeders' are
stout, heaIthy-lool1ng, fulI-blooded peo-
pie. whose appearance would never give
rise to the suspicion of disease.
1.-The treatment is to replace the lost
blood as quickly as possible, and so pre-
serve the vitality For this purpose pre-
pared liquid foods of high nutritive value
are used, which are easily and quickly
converted into blood