TOXEMIAS OCCURRING IN THE EARLY STAGES OF MENTAL DISEASE

Abstract

Careful examination of patients in the acute stages of the various psychoses so commonly reveals clinical evidence of systemic toxemia, fever, delirium and delirioid states, indicanuria, albuminuria, leukocytosis and the like that they hardly need comment. Three years ago, we undertook a systematic search for evidence of systemic intoxication of a bacterial or metabolic nature. Our opportunities for the study of the acute phases of mental disease are exceptionally good, as the Longview Hospital receives the majority of the acute mental cases from a population of over half a million people, many of the patients coming during the earliest stages of their disease. All examinations have been begun on the day of admission, and practically all have been completed by the following morning. The patients are received in the morning, and most of them have had breakfast before admission. They are placed at rest in bed, no food being given