=Cure.=--There is almost nothing in the realm of therapy which is so striking as a scorbutic patient's prompt reaction to antiscorbutic treatment. It is all the more marvelous as the cure is effected by means of foodstuffs with which we are accustomed to associate no specific virtue. A magic result is seen frequently within 24 or 48 hours. A baby which has had a poor appetite, has been irritable and exquisitely tender, suddenly regains its appetite, is no longer fretful, and can be handled without occasioning crying. Within a week, if the case is mild, all definite symptoms of scurvy may have disappeared, and soon thereafter the infant is thriving and apparently cured. A table is here reproduced (Table 6) from the report of the American Pediatric Society showing the duration of treatment before marked improvement was noticed: TABLE 6 DURATION OF TREATMENT BEFORE MARKED IMPROVEMENT WAS NOTICED ========================================================== | Days Cases | Weeks Cases | Months Cases | |------------------+------------------+------------------| | 1 19 | 1 47 | 1 6 | | 2 58 | 2 27 | 2 4 | | 3 46 | 3 8 | 3 4 | | 4 26 | 4 1 | | | 5 19 | 5 1 | | | 6 1 | 6 1 | | | 7 2 | | | | 8 2 | | | | 9 1 | | | | 10 7 | | | | 12 2 | | | | | | | ---------------------------------------------------------- In most instances a gain of weight accompanies improvement. In not a few instances, however, there is a temporary loss or cessation of weight, due in part to an increased excretion of urine. Occasionally there is observed a short exacerbation of the symptoms following the giving of an antiscorbutic--a swelling of the thigh or hemorrhage of the gums. A similar phenomenon has been noted in relation to the treatment of polyneuritis in birds and of beriberi in man.