Anemia.

Definition.—By the term anemia is understood a change in the quantity or quality of the blood, and represents a variety of affections, deterioration of the blood being characteristic of each.

There may be a reduction in the volume of blood, without alteration of its composition, when the term oligemia is applied, or a reduction in the number of red corpuscles, is termed oligocythemia, and when the amount of hemoglobin is deficient oligochromemia is the term applied.

The simplest and perhaps best classification of anemia is into primary, or idiopathic, and secondary or symptomatic.

By primary, idiopathic, or essential anemia, is understood a disturbance of the blood or blood-making organs, or both, the anemia being the distinctive feature of the lesion, and all the other symptoms are secondary or dependent upon these.

By secondary anemia is understood a disturbance of the blood, due to some disease acting upon the blood or blood-making organs, the anemia being secondary.

Primary anemia is divided into two distinct forms: Chlorosis and progressive pernicious anemia.

The Eclectic Practice of Medicine, 1907, was written by Rolla L. Thomas, M. S., M. D.