PECULIAR AFFLICTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 June 1943, Page 2

PECULIAR AFFLICTION

$ PATIENTS WITH BLUE SKINS, CURE REPORTED IN BRITAIN. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, June 11. A remarkable cure of two brothers who had blue skin (idiopathic mathaemoglobinaemia) is revealed by the “British Medical Journal.” The cause of blue skin in human beings is unknown. The cases of the two brothers were the first reported in Great Britain and Ireland. The elder brother, aged 29, had been blue-skinned since birth. Not only was the skin of his face, including his ears and neck blue, but his hands and feet, and to lesser extent his body were coloured a deep blue. Treatment began on March 30, 1942. The patient was given ascorb acid night and morning, by mouth, on the first day, followed by increased doses twice daily with sodium bicarbonate, daily at noon. On the twelfth day the patient's complexion became natural. The treatment has continued until now. His health has improved and his complexion remains normal. The blue condition of the younger brother, aged 19. possibly was slightly present at birth. It was more pronounced at eleven, but he is not deeply blue-coloured. His treatment began on May 4. 1942. During the first month the blue of his lips and ears gradually disappeared, yielding to normal reddish tones.