Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-04-17

My friend, Senator Ransdan, of
Louisiana, has prepared a bill,
proposing to establish q National
Institute Of Public Health" The
senator is disturbed over the long
list Of diseases which require study
in order that q means Of cure may
be discovered.
There are a lot OF these, too
many for u peace Of mind. In
this list is found pernicious
anemia.
What is "pernicious anemia?"
You know what "anemia" is, that
condition of the blood in which
there is a marked decrease in the
colored corpuscleS of the blood. We
observe a waxy condition Of the
skin, great weakness, and all the
symptoms of lowered vitality.
PerniciouS anemia is worse than
this, a really serious and long-con-
tinued disease. The attacks last for
months and repeatedly recur over
G period Of years. There are mark
changes in the blood and many dis
agreeable symptoms. The red color
ing material of the blood. essential
to health and physical safety, is
greatly reduced.
In this disease there is not only
an unwillingness to do anything,
but this weakness progresses stead
lily. There r occasional periods
OF Improvement, as I have said, but
1t is not long before another at
tack appears.
There are some diseases, the eff
fects of which are due to a failure
OF some organ Of the body to sup
ply a substance essential to orf
welfare. One such disease is dia-
beteS, in which the secretion of the
pancreaS-the "sWeetbread'-is re-
duced.
This particular secretion is
known as "insulin." Without it the
tissues are unable to take sugar
from the blood. Then trouble re-
suits.
In pernicious anemia we are not
so fortunate as is the case in dia-
betes. In the latter disease, with
the cause known, 1t has been found
possible to give inSulin and thus
overcome the failure of the PAN
creas to make it.
In progressive anemia the miss
ing factor has not been located
and, as yet, no way is known Of
supplying 1t, as insulin is supplied.
But some patient research worker
| will find it.
In the treatment Of pernicious
anemia the authorities are pretty
well in agreement. They all advise
that rest in bed is of great i'm
p%ortance. The poor victim Is kept
in his room for weeks at a time.
Various forms of medication are
advised. The family doctor must
determine what to do in a partic-
ular case.
Perhaps the thing Of chief value
is the proper feeding of the pa
tient. Much depends on giving an
abundance of good food.
Many special diets have been
recommended in pernicious anemia.
Things that are easy of digestion
and capable of improving the gen.
eral nourishment Of the body, have
been agreed upon as valuable. We.
too, can agree to this, because it
should be the test to apply to all
our eating, in health as well as in
disease.
A full quota Of protein food, sup
piled by milk and vegetables, is
important. The importance of the
protein foods is the reason why
muscle meat and liver have been SO
highly recommended.
In pernicious anemia the blood
building processes Of the body are
seriously reduced. To overcome
this defect we must give blood
building foods. One of the best Of
these is liver, perhaps Calls liver
because it is less fat.
The liver may be taken broiled,
baked, minced, or made into soup.
1t should be prepared without fat
because this food element is harm
full in the disease we are con-
sidering.
Green vegetables, fruits, sweet
potatoes, as well as the other foods
I have mentioned, are useful in
pernicious anemia. These are q
few suggestions which may be help
full in its control.