Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IV.djvu/516

 504 OHLOROPHYL CHLOROSIS and three of sulphuric acid, and collecting the gas over water. The chloride of methyl pos- sesses anaesthetic properties, but is less man- ageable than the bichloride, which is the sub- ject of this article. The latter is a colorless liquid, of an odor analogous to that of chloro- form, of specific gravity T344 and boiling point 88. Its formula is C a H a Cl 2. It mixes readily with absolute ether, and the mixture volatilizes evenly and equally. When inhaled it produces, according to Dr. B. W. Richardson, insensi- bility without previous excitement, and the insensibility when -produced continues longer without an additional administration than that caused by other anaesthetics. It may be made to destroy life, but after death muscular irrita- bility remains longer than with some other anaesthetics, and consequently the chances of a restoration of the vital functions are greater. The bichloride of methylene has been some- what employed as a surgical anaesthetic by Dr. Richardson, who first brought it into notice for this purpose, and by others. It seems to be more agreeable than ether, but unfortunately does not share with ether the superiority over chloroform of being less dangerous to life. CHLOROPHTL (Gr. x^ptf, green, and <jAMov, leaf), the substance which gives the green color to leaves and herbage. It may be dissolved from the leaves by alcohol or ether, and is found to consist partly of wax, and partly of a peculiar substance allied to indigo. CHLOROSIS (from Gr. jAw/sdf, green), a dis- ease characterized by pallor, with a greenish tint of the face. The disease has been called the "green sickness," and is known in past medical 1 iterature by a variety of synonymes. It affects chiefly girls at or near the period of pu- berty, and is generally connected with disorders of menstruation. This function in some cases is either arrested or performed insufficiently, and in some cases there is a marked loss of blood. Modern researches have shown that a constant and essential condition in cases of this disease is the morbid blood-change called anaemia, or impoverishment of the blood ; the change con- sisting in a diminution of the red globules. Many of the symptoms in cases of chlorosis are doubtless attributable to this change in the blood ; and some writers consider that the dis- ease is, in fact, simply anaemia occurring espe- cially in young girls, and often when the cus- tomary causes of impoverisbment of the blood are wanting. The morbid complexion, which is more or less marked in different cases, is due chiefly to anaemia. Other common symptoms are muscular debility, tendency to faintness or syncope, susceptibility to cold, impaired ability for mental effort, with depression and irritability of temper. With these symptoms are often associated defective appetite, with sometimes a morbid craving for innutritions substances, such as chalk and slate; disturb- ance of digestion, manifested by a variety of symptoms; palpitation of the heart; pain in the side, especially the left side, attributable to intercostal neuralgia; neuralgic affections in other situations; consumption, leucorrhoea, and various other ailments. A constant sign, representing the blood-change, is the venous hum, called by French writers bruit de diable (the word diable relating to the toy known as the humming top). This sign is a continuous hum- ming sound, sometimes musical, heard through the stethoscope applied to the neck, especially on the right side, the head being turned as far as possible in a direction opposite to the side on which the stethoscope is applied, and the pa- tient being either sitting or standing. The sound is caused by the movement of the cur- rent of blood in the veins of the neck. An abnormal sound, known as a bellows or blow- ing murmur, is usually heard when the stetho- scope is applied over the aorta and pulmonary artery, just above the heart, also over the ca- rotid and other arteries of considerable size. These blood-murmurs are valuable to the phy- sician as evidence of anaemia, and their disap- pearance serves to show that the anaemic con- dition is removed. The causation of chlorosis is evidently connected with the evolution of the sexual system, but it is not easy in the existing state of our knowledge to give a pathological explanation of the connection. So far as the anaemic condition is concerned, in some cases this is produced and kept up by immoderate menstruation and insufficient alimentation. In the medical treatment of chlorosis, the preparations of iron are especially to be relied upon. These are sometimes rapidly effective, but often to secure their full efficiency they must be continued for a long period. Tonic remedies to promote appetite and digestion are useful. Using proper reserve with reference to the risk of abuse, wine may be advised with advantage, and Burgundy wine is gen- erally considered most appropriate. Malt liquors are sometimes taken with benefit. Hygienic measures, however, constitute an es- sential part of the treatment. These measures consist of out-of-door life, change of scene, mental recreation, and as nutritious alimenta- tion as practicable. The affection is not in it- self serious, nor does it involve a tendency to any grave disease. Under judicious manage- ment the recovery of health may be confident- ly expected. An essential element in chloro- sis, as already stated, is anaemia, or impover- ishment of the blood. The red globules, in- stead of being in the normal proportion of from 120 to 130 in 1,000 parts, may decrease to 70, 60, or even nearly to 20. The term anaemia is also employed to denote a deficiency of blood in any of the organs of the body ; thus, cere- bral anaemia means a deficiency of blood with- in the substance of the brain. In this sense of the term it is the opposite of hyperaemia, or congestion. Ischaemia is a term lately intro- duced to express a local anaemia. Anaemia is of frequent occurrence, exclusive of cases of chlorosis, and much more frequent in women than in men. The relative proportion of the