OCR Text |
Show Second Favism Case in United States Chicago. For the second time in medical literature a case of favism is reported in the United States. Favism occurs not uncommonly in Italy and occasionally in Germany. It is a type of hemolytic anemia that occurs among some persons who eat the bean Vicia fava, or who inhale the pollen of the blossoming plant. These beans broad, smooth, kidney kid-ney shaped Italian beans are eaten eat-en by Italian residents in this country, coun-try, but not until 1933 was the first case of favism reported in American Ameri-can medical writings. The young man has recovered from his severe illness, and his physician. Dr. John E. Hutton of New York Post-Graduate hospital, describes his case and the disease in general in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Only a few persons who eat this type of bean become ill, according to Dr. Hutton. They may have been eating beans for years with impunity impu-nity when suddenly, usually in adult life or in old age, they get a severe attack of favism. The prevalence of the condition in Italy varies from year to year. It occurs oftenest after the first ingestion in-gestion of green beans in season and among those who eat them frequently. fre-quently. Death may occur after eating only a small quantity. |