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THE ADMINISTRATION OF THYREOID GLAND TO PREMATURE BABIES
Author(s) -
P. F.R.C.,
Physician
Publication year - 1938
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1938.tb70310.x
Subject(s) - citation , administration (probate law) , computer science , information retrieval , library science , law , political science
the person's tissues cannot withstand the anoxemic breakdown, failure of function is inevitable. Latchford states that sodium bicarbonate shifts the dissociation curve of hremoglobin to the left, decreasing the oxygen supply to the tissues and inducing pleonexy. There can be no justification for allowing this condition to be produced by therapeutic measures, for immediate interference with oxygen supply follows absorption of the bicarbonate. J. J. R. MacLeod, in his study by animal expertments of lactic acid concentrations in conditions of anoxremia and shock, found that ingestion of sodium bicarbonate with food was followed by an increase of the concentration of lactic acid in the blood and urine. Increased lactic acid content has been accepted as a definite indication of the anoxeemic state. MacLeod confirmed Barcroft's observations by showing that anoxemia may follow the administration of sodium bicarbonate. Blatchford points out that suddenly fatal anoxemia may follow the administration of a large dose of bicarbonate. C. S. McVicar remarked on the high colour of the lips and cheeks in patients suffering from gastric tetany, a condition which he considered was probably due to the high percentage of hremoglobin in the blood and the decreased vasomotor tone of the blood vessels. But Latchford suggests that this condition might also be explained by a high saturation of hremoglobin with oxygen. This feature of the pleonectic state is often attributed to acidosis. The blood holds its oxygen. The normal production of carbon dioxide is diminished. Cyanosis may be absent even at the time of actual failure. Latchford's article contains much that is of great interest: It discloses unsuspected perils in such a commonplace and familiar remedy as baking soda. Further, it makes us realize how much safer is the use of oxide of magnesium when the administration of an alkali over long periods is indicated.