Lead Poisoning from Contaminated Water Supplies, with Special Reference to the Significance of Punctate Basophilia

Martin, W. M (1930) Lead Poisoning from Contaminated Water Supplies, with Special Reference to the Significance of Punctate Basophilia. MD thesis, University of Glasgow.

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Abstract

It has been known for some considerable time that cases of lead poisoning from contaminated water supplies are continually occurring in different parts of Lancashire, but from the paucity of published cases, it does not appear to be realised how widespread this intoxication may be. Cooke states that during the past few months several cases of lead poisoning have come under his notice, and he thinks that these are merely a tithe of the cases existing In Lancashire to-day. with this opinion I am In thorough agreement. Plumbism presents such a diversity of symptoms, especially In those cases with only a mild degree of poisoning, that unless one is on the look-out for it, many cases may be overlooked, and the patients classified as neurotic because of their never-ending visits to the consulting room. Sir Thomas Oliver says, "I have not the slightest doubt that there are many cases of illness attended by obscure nervous symptoms of which no explanation can be given and which are illustrations of atypical plumbism. Patients thus suffering are seen and treated by medical men without the true nature of their malady being recognised." In my own practice, the occurrence of two or three cases of undoubted lead poisoning lead to a systematic search for other cases, with the astonishing result that In one small area of the town alone, no less than forty cases have been collected during the past five to six months. Many of these cases could not have been diagnosed as lead poisoning had not a special search been made for the condition, and every suspected case fully Investigated until there was no doubt as to the diagnosis. Cases of typical lead poisoning have been known to occur In the town from time to time, but no previous attempt has been made to assess the amount of Illness caused by the condition. In this Thesis, the results of the Investigation will be detailed, and special reference will be made to the significance of punctate basophilia In chronic plumblsm.

Item Type: Thesis (MD)
Qualification Level: Doctoral
Keywords: Medicine, Toxicology
Date of Award: 1930
Depositing User: Enlighten Team
Unique ID: glathesis:1930-79891
Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
Date Deposited: 03 Mar 2020 10:26
Last Modified: 03 Mar 2020 10:26
URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/79891

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