The Detroit times., 1913-05-23
EAT SIX Times
DAILY, ADVICE
TO ASTHENICS
DIR. Greene, of University of
Minnesota, Says Cases Are
Far From Hopeless
DECLARES SURGERY MIS-.
TAKE IN TREATMENT
Various Forms of An;emia Are
Described by DIR. Donald in
D. Nj. {. Clinic

The largest proportion OF chronic
invalids fall under the congenital
asthenic type" said DR. Charles L.
Greene. head of the department OF
medicine OF the University OF Mime.
sofa, Minneapolis, in the clinic room
OF ST. Mays hospital, Thursday
morning. TO crowded audience OF
alumni OF the Detroit College OF Medi
cine, in the second day OF the reor-
ganized colleges annual clinic.
They are the great American trav.
elers and the great European travel
ers, always going about the country
from one place TO another in search
OF relief Dr. Greene continued
They give all kinds of trouble to
medical men. We are all acquainted
with these nervous dyspeptics. They
lend themselves TO the methods Of dis
honest men, the Quacks in medicine
fer they can be kept going indefinitely
by false promises.
But these cases are not hopeless
Surgery is not the proper treatment
Operations for movable or floating
kidney are mistake. Surgery may
give temporary psychic relief. but IL
There Is always a tendency toward
sub-nutrition. and the way to cure
the condition. as far as cure can be
made, is through a well-ordered at.
tempt TO build up the physical condi-
ton. Increasing weight Is the indica.
ton OF improvement
DR.. Greene said that starvation add.
ed to the general debility OF the pa.
tient.
1T is astonishing" he continued,
TO see how the patient picks up under
forced nutrition. Very often the pa
tient gets too little nutrition through
the belief that the digestive organs
cannot take care of much food. and
through the mistaken suggestions OF
friends as TO proper diet.
OF all cases on earth. these are the
most untitled for surgery, and they
are getting far too much Of it. The
patients suffer tremendously from
operations because OF their debility.
For the same reason they suffer extra
ordinarily from infections. should
say that in five cases out of 100, an
operation may do some good
Systematic feeding, six times a
day, and properly fitted corset 10
make cushion for the intestinal
coils. are the recommendations that
| would make
DR.. Greene showed three patients
suffering from congenital asthenia
One, a woman, had had two opera
lions, and had felt temporary relief
after each. but had soon returned to
her old state Of debility. She refused
to undergo a third operation for gall
stones.
The third operation ought not to
be performed until the patient has
gone through course of proper feed.
ing, rest and possibly massage" said
DR.. Greene.
A good deal of what is supposed to
be heart trouble is congenital as
thenia. Dr. Greene said Persistent
disturbance OF sleep, and bad dreams :;
inability TO keep awake In the day
time; readily induced fatigue and in
ability TO accomplish usual tasks
these, he said. indicated incompensa.
ton of the heart due to general de.
bility, and should be treated by feed
ing. rest and massage
Dr.. William NJ. Donald. OF Detroit.
opened Thursdays clinic by discus
sion OF the anaemias He described
chlorotic anaemia, a disease peculiar
to young girls. caused by lack of
haemOglobin in the blood corpuscles,
and indicated by a pallor and a lem
on-green color Of the skin. Hygiene,
correct living and doses OF iron, he
said. were the proper treatment In
secondary anaemia. Dr. Donald said
the blood cells were deformed, bent
and broken. The cause must be
treated-usually parasite, such as
intestinal worms, or the parasites in
carcinoma of the stomach. or tuber.
culosis.
In pernicious enaemia, he said
there are only about 100000 red
blood cells to the cubic millimeter.
instead Of 100000, causing defective
oxidation Of the blood, and hence ex-
cessive fat.
The patient looks we'll in flesh.
but is profoundly pale" explained DR..
Donald His heart works badly. He
Is breathless after walking a few