The effect of exercise on the hæmoglobin with reference to the value of rest in the treatment of anæmia / by Wilfrid Edgecombe.

  • Edgecombe, Wilfrid.
Date:
[1898?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The effect of exercise on the hæmoglobin with reference to the value of rest in the treatment of anæmia / by Wilfrid Edgecombe. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    a decrease took place) only amounted to 1.8 per cent., while the decrease after no-exercise days amounted to 2 5 per cent., a gain once more (in the shape of a lesser fall) in favour of exercise of 0.7 per cent. These figures being so small, the actual amount of gain may appear trivial, but it must be borne in mind that the cumulative effect of even so small an increment must have a powerful influence in maintaining a high average level of the worth of the corpuscle. Thus exercise appears to result in a temporary increased destruction of hemoglobin, but to be followed by a more than corresponding increased formation; in the healthy subject its remote effect is to stimulate the production of hemo¬ globin. Possibly this may be the cause of the reserve of hemoglobin mentioned above as being stored up to provide against contingencies. That exercise causes a not incon¬ siderable temporary drain on the resources of the hemo¬ globin the above figures abundantly demonstrate, and the ad¬ vantage of a slight reserve becomes apparent. If these conclusions be correct, it follows that during a period when little or no exercise is taken, the average level of the worth of the corpuscle must be below that of a period of the same length during which frequent exercise is taken. The record was examined on this point with the result that during the month of August, when the subject was taking frequent hard exercise, the average of the morning readings of the worth gave the figure 1.076 ; during September, when a moderate amount of exercise was taken, 1.052; while during October, when circumstances compelled the subject to lead an almost absolutely sedentary life, the average amounted to 1.03. Passive Exercise. That passive exercise in the form of massage causes a rise in the percentage of corpuscles has been noted by several observers, among them being Melassez,2 Charon,3 and K. Mit¬ chell.4 The latter noticed an increase in the number of cor¬ puscles, sometimes very considerable, after massage, the maximum being reached one hour after cessation of the pro¬ cess, but he failed to find a corresponding increase in haemo¬ globin. The rise in corpuscles he attributes to the dislodge- ment of large numbers that are sluggishly lingering in the by-ways of the circulation, and not available for use until dis¬ turbed by the massage. Chart iv shows in graphic form the result of two typical experiments. They agree with the observations made by Mitchell as regards the cor¬ puscles, the volume of which is increased, the maximum being reached one hour after light massage and two hours after heavy massage. But a corresponding rise in the percentage of haemoglobin was noted, with, consequently, no change in the worth of the corpuscle. This result is probably due to a diminution of the total volume of the blood, fluid pass¬ ing out through the capillary wall to supply the place of lymph driven on by the massage, and not to the passage of stagnant corpuscles into the active circulation. The diminution was greater after heavy than after light massage, and persisted for some hours before the displaced fluid found its way back into the general circulation, and restored the blood to its original volume. In no case was a fall in the worth of the cor¬ puscle observed after massage. Moreover, a prolonged course of massage (one hour twice a day) on a subject whose blood decimal, or worth, was normal, had no effect in either raising or lowering it. Before the course 88 haemoglobin the blood averaged-=1.00 worth; after three weeks’ massage 88 corpuscles 109 98 It rose to —, and after six weeks’ massage it fell to —, about which poin$ 109 98