THE CLINICAL STUDY OF EDEMA BY MEANS OF THE ELASTOMETER

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Abstract
The elastometer, an instrument devised by Schade1 to measure edema, promises to change the study of edema from a subjective one depending on the amount of pitting obtained on pressure, to an objective one, whereby the degree of edema may be expressed in exact terms. Tactile estimation of edema fails not only to give an accurate idea of fluctuations that occur in an edematous area, but by the tactile sense alone, slight and even moderate degrees of edema may pass unnoticed. Indeed, Widal2 has shown that in the adult an increase in weight up to 6 kilos may occur before edema will be sufficiently marked to be noted by the palpating finger. This figure varies in different individuals under different conditions. Studies in water retention, which have heretofore been done by noting the changes in the body weight or by determining the fluid intake and output, may

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