When, in 1904, Turk1 first noted the abnormal leukocyte counts that may appear in polycythemia, he did not seem particularly interested in the blood smear. On the other hand, Blumenthal,2 during the following year, thought that he had discovered a new disease when he observed a leukocytosis with many myelocytes in a case of polycythemia. This condition is now well recognized and has been described by Weber,3 Pendergrass and Pancoast,4 Minot and Buckman5 and others.
The case presented here is reported not only because it comes in this group, but also because the patient was under observation for almost two years before abnormal cells were seen. It was three years before the leukemic pictures became marked. In addition to the blood picture, the enlarged spleen is of interest. Most unfortunately a postmortem examination could not be obtained.
The patient was in the Presbyterian Hospital on