Case Reports
Malnutrition
Pottenger’s Cats
Famous Raw Food Study
Francis M. Pottenger, Jr. (1901–1967) was the son of Francis M. Pottenger, Sr., the physician who co-founded the Pottenger Sanatorium for treatment of tuberculosis. He completed his residency in 1930 and became a full-time assistant at the Sanatorium. From 1932 to 1942, he also conducted what became known as the Pottenger Cat Study.
In 1940, he bought some of the cottages from the Monrovia sanatorium and founded the Francis M Pottenger, Jr. Hospital. Until closing in 1960, the 42-bed hospital specialized in treating non-tubercular diseases of the lung, especially asthma. One particular question that Pottenger addressed in his study had to do with the nutritive value of heat-labile elements — nutrients destroyed by heat and available only in raw foods.
Epilepsy
Phlegm Misting Mind
Signalment: 6 ½ year old, male neutered Border Collie
Guardian’s Complaint: Seizuring frequently despite conventional therapy
History: The patient was walking, lost balance, seizured and has been having two to three convulsive episodes per month for the past 1 ½ years. Potassium bromide 700 mg SID was prescribed August 2007. A bromide level of 0.6 mg/ml was reported 09/24/07. Therapeutic reference range was 1-3 mg/ml. The dosage of KBr was increased to 875 mg SID. A bromide level of 0.7 mg/ml was reported 11/14/07. The dosage of KBr was increased to 1100 mg SID. A bromide level of 0.9 mg/ml was reported 12/23/07. A fT4 by Ed and TT4 were within range on 2/08/08. A CBC/Chem revealed mildly decreased absolute lymphs and an elevation of SGPT/ALT 198 (5-107) on 02/08/08 and a chloride of 130 (105-115) due to bromide therapy. The bromide level was still 0.9 mg/ml. Diet has been Iams dry kibble. The dog has a normal appetite, no vomiting. Stool, thirst, and urination normal per guardian. Vaccinations current guardian reports. Dog has been very healthy.
