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39
blood pressure and urine, is helping to diminish the incidence of
eclampsia in our midst. Of the two tests, I consider the estimation of
blood pressure is of more value in putting one on the track of the
potential eclamptic, rather than the urine test. In the case referred
to above, we were watching her closely and dieting her, because her
diastolic pressure was high, long before any albumin appeared in the
urine. I consider that the blood pressure estimations cannot be
valued too highly as long as it is always borne in mind that there is a
nervous element present in a certain small proportion of cases which
must be taken into account, as it may help to bring about a temporary
rise of systolic pressure which disappears when the patient becomes
accustomed to the carrying out of the test. In such cases, the diastolic
pressure is usually normal although the systolic is high. It is the
woman with a persistently high diastolic pressure who must be most
closely watched for possible complications.
Finally, it is of interest to note that in this series of 26 cases, 16'
women had one or more decayed teeth and three women had some
degree of dental sepsis. The connection between an unhealthy mouth
and toxaemia of pregnancy, although obscure, seems to be a real one.
Undoubtedly the splendid work of our dentist is helping to diminish the
incidence of toxaemia of pregnancy amongst the expectant mothers of
Hampstead, as so many of them go to the Dental Clinic for treatment
now.
I cannot speak too highly of milk as a food when planning a diet
for a patient suffering from toxaemia of pregnancy. Most experts
seem to agree that butcher's meat must be cut out of her diet then
(with the exception perhaps, of an occasional meal of liver), and eggs
also are regarded by them with suspicion. It will be readily understood,
therefore, how valuable as a source of protein is the curd in
milk for such cases. Consequently, it is a great help when one
encounters the first symptoms of toxaemia of pregnancy in a necessitous
expectant mother, to be able to obtain a supply of free milk for
her.
MARY KIDD,
M.B. (Lond.).