Abstract
The polycythemia associated with cardiac disease is to be regarded as a conservative process, wherein the increase in the number of oxygen-carrying cells compensates more or less for the imperfect circulation resulting from obstruction to the blood-stream, or admixture of venous with arterial blood. The observations of Weil 1 favor this conception of erythrocytosis, and the experiments of Seller, 2 who induced polycythemia in animals by reduction of the oxygen tension of the inspired air, indicate that bone-marrow reacts physiologically to partial asphyxia, by hyperplasia and increased cell output. In certain cases of congenital cardiac defect, the remarkable grade of cyanosis would suggest that, in spite of the increase in the number of erythrocytes, the tissues are not perfectly supplied with the adequate amounts of oxygen, inasmuch as the cyanosis is here due to the venous character of the blood in superficial capillaries. Lepine 3 found as high
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
