Abstract
In a paper previously published 1 a method has been described whereby clinical variability in capillary permeability has been examined by means of the blister (estimated by per cent of protein exudated, and by duration of time required for the blister to form).
In the present study we have examined such cantharides blisters produced on 250 tuberculous patients.
It has been found that there is a progressive increase in the degree of permeability with active progression of the disease, illustrated in the following table.
When the blister time was examined it has been found that for the normal, as well as for the I A, I B, and the M. A. A. cases, the average was about 7 hours. The M. A. B. cases showed a considerable prolongation (9 hours); with progression of the disease the blister time was progressively shortened.
The changes in the blister time would indicate a moderate increase in sympathetic tonus of the skin during the M. A. A. stages which, however, gives way to a parasympathetic overbalance with progress of the disease. There is evidently a distinct increase in capillary permeability with increased activity of the tuberculous process. Exudative cases in general have capillaries that are considerably more permeable than the normal.
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