Definition

Chronic bleeding. The patients affected in this way are spoken of as "bleeders." When they are known, surgeons give them a wide berth. Women during their menstruation will have much loss of blood each month if they are inclined this way. Such cases will even continue to bleed for an indefinite length of time after a tooth is drawn. The slightest injury will cause great bleeding. The blood has lost its power to coagulate.

Etiology

Exactly the same condition obtains that is recognized in toxin poisoning. It may be that poisons may be taken in from the outside--such drugs as lead, arsenic, mercury, etc.; but the cause is usually decomposition manufactured in the alimentary canal and absorbed in the system. The reason why the blood is thrown into such a peculiar state that it will not coagulate is because this particular organ is the weakest one in the system--in the same way that the spleen becomes involved in leukemia because there is a predisposition to take on this affection. This affection, the same as any other, can develop only when the proper conditions are present. It is found in very young children. Why not? Parents live in such a way as to derange the mother's blood--lower its vital tone--and it would only be natural for the child to be born with a predisposition to take on affections similar to those of the mother. Besides, the child will nurse the mother, and, if it is fed, it will be fed the same way that the mother has eaten, which has brought her own blood deterioration upon her.

Treatment

There is nothing to be done except to build the patient up and stop all bad habits of eating.