Definition

This is a disease of the lymphatic glands. It starts on the side of the neck; the spleen enlarges, and there usually are formations of growths or nodules in the liver, spleen, lungs, and other organs. The lymphatic glands in different parts of the body become involved, feeling like nodules under the surface of the skin, on the arms, legs, and abdomen. These are very pronounced cases. The disease generally occurs in the first half of life, or in young people.

Etiology

This is one of the diseases of which the true nature of the real cause is not known. In all cases that I have been called upon to treat, however, I have found a gastro-intestinal derangement, and the bad habit of excessive eating and keeping up putrefaction in the intestine. Most authors declare that chronic tonsillitis may precede the onset. Chronic tonsillits is built from decomposition and putrefaction in the alimentary canal; so why should not these lighter forms of disease precede the chronic infections that come after resistance is broken down? The inguinal glands become involved and grow very rapidly. These are the first glands to show that there is putrefaction in the intestine. Of course, the lymphatic glands found on the surface and in the cavities of the abdomen and pelvis are always involved, playing an important part in developing catarrhal inflammation of the uterus, etc. In the early stages there is a slight fever. As the disease advances, the fever may go up in the afternoon every day. Sometimes a chill precedes the fever, and a sweating stage follows after the fever subsides. In fatal cases, pronounced emaciation ultimately sets in. This is about the time when the symptoms of dropsy begin to develop. Dropsy is usually seen in exhaustion. It means that the vital organs--heart and kidneys--are failing in their work through exhaustion brought on from toxin poisoning.

Treatment

The disease can be controlled, if taken in the early stages. Certainly I should not recommend an operation for the removal of the glands. This, however, is the common treatment, but it is positively unnecessary. A rational dietary, with proper care of the body, will overcome the disease. Authorities generally think that arsenic is the leading drug with which to treat this disease. Fasting for from one to two or three weeks is the proper thing--perhaps one week of fasting and then two weeks of fruit morning, noon, and night; after that, two meals of fruit, with a regulation dinner of meat one day, and a decidedly starchy food the alternate days, and at each dinner two cooked, non-starchy vegetables and a combination salad.