The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-23
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.
Discussion Of "AcidOsis' and State.
ment COrcernfng Disease.

ment Concerning Disease.
The January meeting of the Sum-
ter County Medical Association was
held at the Nurses Home on last
Thursday afternoon. A delegation
of ladies from the Civic League met
with the physicians to consider means
of fighting the disea Sc familiarly
known as/ "AcidOsis." The disease
the physicians present. Owing to the
general interest in the subject it has
been decided to publish summary OF
the discussions and the conclusions
reached:
It, is now considered that so-called
acidosis is, a relative condition, and
not q separate disease within itself.
1t was formerly thought by some
that it was distinctive disease, as
typhoid fewer, pneumonia, ETC., and
because Of an excess Of acid in the
system, the condition became known
as acidosis.
At first the disease usually resem-
bles an ordinary indigestion. One OF
the best terms yet used to designate
the condition is Indigestion with Fer
mentation." There are always certain
bacteria present in the intestinal tract.
Some of these bacteria feed upon the
protei6 foods (such as meat) while
others live upon the carbohydrates
(such as sugar.) If one set Of bac-
terra do not overbalance the other in
their effects, All is well. However, IL
one is overwhelmed by the other there
is diarrhoea, or other symptoms of
indigestion. II there are poisonous
bacteria present, we have the toxic
symptoms as shown by the nervous
system, such as spasm odic twitching
Of the hands, muscles of the face, or
even convulsions. Whether so-called
acidosis is due to germs normally
present in the intestinal tract, or
whether, in addition, some unusual
germ is present. we do not yet know.
The disease nay begin with an OBJ
stinate constipation, and when a lax
ative is given, it is followed by an un--
controllable diarrhoea- In other cases
the diarrhcea is present from the first.
The disease may begin with a sore
throat or tonsiIlitis, in fact, some au-
thorities claim that there is always
some focus of infection, such as the
throat, nose or ear. However, the
consensus of opinion now is that it is
due to over-feeding, or improper feed
ing. The disease is very rare among
children that nurse entirely, but is
common among those that are bottle
fed, and those that use both the bottle
and mothers milk. 1t is also found
among children that receive no milk
at all, and even paSteurized milk
does not always prevent it. When the
disease is wegl developed we have
vomiting of watery fluid, watery diar.
rhoea, great thirst, flushed cheeks and
exhaustion and loss of fluids. Fever
may or may NOT be present. The child
is very irritable, and later passes into
a stupor. The excess Ok acid present
is indicated By acetone In the urine.
This, however. is by no means a sure
sign, for acetone is present in about 80
per cent of all diseases Of children.
The vomiting and diarrhoea are ef-
forts of nature to rid the system of
poisons. and, as these expelled fluids
are alkaline they rob the child Of so
much alkali tNat an excess of acid is
left in the tissues, and we have the
so-called acidosis as a secondary con-
dition. The child is usually so nau-
seated that we cannot supply more
alkali by the mouth. therefore soda
enemas are given to neutralize the
acid. The soda enemas may not be
well retained, and it is usually best to
give the soda s.olution in the veins of
the arm. or, fir the case of an infant,
in the veins of the head. The Bulgar-
ian buttermilk is given because the
Bulgarian germ is antagonistic to the
putrefactive germs that are causing
the trouble in the intestines. One OF
the best means Of controlling the
vomiting and diarrhoea is by giving
deXtrose (grape-sugar) by injections
into the veins Normal salt solution is
injected under the skin to relieve the
thirst.
In conclusion we may say that
Sumter is not alone in it's epidemic OF
this disease. Boston, Atlanta, and
many other places, including South