The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1938-07-28
co AND HEART DISEASE

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Can't take the space here to dis
cuss the question Of contamination
or pollution of air with the color
less, odorless but deadly carbon
monoxide gas and its effects on
health. That is discussed in some
detail in the booklet How to
Breathe" For a copy send twenty
cents coin and stamped envelope
bearing your address. Suffice to say
here that carbon monoxide Is not
a true poison-it does not injure the
cells or tissues of the body; all of
its effects are due to anoXia-ab-
sence of oxygen, which the carbon
monoxide crowds out of the blood
and tissues. 1t must be remember
ed that some cells cannot survive
deprivation of oxygen for even a
few seconds. The after effects of
casing with co in cases where
recovery occurs are due entirely to
the damage or destruction of some
of the cells, as in the central ner-
vous system, which can never be
replaced or renewed.
Angina pectoris frequently occurs
in pernicious anemia, and today
the immediate cause of the attack
is we'll recognized as anoxia or
anoxemia. Clinically one of the best
emergency remedies for angina
pectoris, whether the patient also
has pernicious anemia or not, is
oxygen. This may be administered
by inhalation If the attack does not
too greatly restrict the breathing;
or it may be injected subcutan-
eously in the flank or under the
breast-pure oxygen gas so injected
is quickly absorbed into the blood
and may give far better results in
desperate cases than mere inhala-
ton.
Angina pectoris occurring In cases
of pernicious anemia has been re-
ported in numerous cases unaccom-
panied with any evident sclerosis or
disease of the coronary arteries -
which makes it the more certain
that the attack Is due to anoxia of
the myocardium-lack of oxygen in
the muscle of the heart wall.
Drs. Harvey Beck and George
Suter recently reported five cases
of angina pectoris due to co
anoXia. One was that of a farmer
and cattle dealer aged SO years,
whose home was heated by burn
ing gas from his own gas well. Gas
escaped from a defective heater in
his bedroom. When the doctor Or
dered that windows be kept open
for protection, and the burner adj
justed and proper pipe connecting
with the flue installed to carry
products of combustion out of the
house, the patient made remark
ably complete recovery-cerebral as
well as heart symptoms clearing up
completely.
A toll bridge operator had suffer-
ed from co anoxia for several years
and recently heart attacks. Some
$4,000 autos idled engines while
pausing at his window to pay toll
daily. Vacations spent away from
explosure to carbon monoxide
brought relief from the heart at
tacks.
Chemical tests of the blood show
how much carbon monoxide satura-
ton there may be. The toll bridge
man when on duty showed mon
oxide saturation of 81 per cent.
QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
The Test of the Pudding
A clipping from your column says
that Chronic arsenic poisoning may
be cause of Raynaud's distase,
and the use of sodium hyposulphite
(thiosulphate) as a remedy to aid
excreton of the arsenic has brought
much relief in some cases." Please
give further information. I'M. to
Answer-First, 1t Is well to have
some evidence or at least reason