Blood Chemistry of Pernicious Anemia

Kahn and Barsky 1 recently published an admirable paper in which they report the results of the blood analyses and the functional capacity of the various organs in three cases of pernicious anemia. Their study revealed the following conditions: Stomach: Gastric stasis seemed to be present; free acid and pepsin absent. The mucosa appeared to be nonfunctioning, the result of atrophy. Intestines: Digestion and absorption, especially that of the proteins, were disturbed and below normal. Intestinal putrefaction was increased. Pancreas: The pancreatic enzymes were present in normal amounts and tests showed that the pancreas was functioning normally. Liver: The function of detoxication was deficient. Other functions, such as the glycogenic, ureogenic, biligenic, were normal. Pigments: Both pleochromie and urobilinocholia existed, showing that excessive hemolysis was going on. Kidneys: The excretory function of the kidneys was normal. Urine: Quantitative partition nitrogen determinations proved the normal output of the excretory nitrogenous substances with