TWO YEARS' EXPERIENCE WITH THE MALARIAL TREATMENT OF GENERAL PARALYSIS IN A STATE INSTITUTION
Abstract
(1) Of 100 general paralytic patients, treated with malaria, 25 were able to leave the hospital. Twelve patients improved to such a degree that they can be trusted in an useful occupation in the hospital. Forty patients are placed in the unimproved group. In 32 patients of the latter group the disease is progressing. In 8 instances the disease has remained stationary. Five patients succumbed during the rigors and 18 died following the malaria.
(2) Serological changes following malarial treatment occurred in both the improved and the unimproved groups. While there was no parallelism between the degree of clinical and serological improvement, the percentage of the serological improvement, particularly as far as the colloidal gold curve was concerned, was higher in the improved groups. The paretic gold curve was reduced in intensity but remained of the paretic type. The conversion of a paretic curve into a true luetic one in our cases was an exception.
(3) The method of the treatment of general paralysis with malaria is relatively simple, compared with the other methods and can be easily carried out in a state institution.
(4) It cannot be denied that this form of treatment is attended with definite risk for the patient. With a better knowledge of the complications that arise during the rigors, death due to therapeutic malaria will be reduced. If, on the other hand, one reviews the fatalities occurring in the course of the specific treatment, particularly with the intraspinal methods, one is aware that no treatment is without hazard.
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