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From: werner@aecom.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.med,sci.med
Subject: Medical Puzzle #21
Message-ID: <529@aecom.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 22-Oct-86 23:21:08 EDT
Article-I.D.: aecom.529
Posted: Wed Oct 22 23:21:08 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 24-Oct-86 01:20:15 EDT
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Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY
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Xref: decwrl net.med:5283 sci.med:61

<>
	First of all, and this is a large hint, I must stress that this case
is by and large historical...

	A young woman is brought into the emergency room in severe distress,
pelvic pain, and profound shock.  An examination of the pelvic area reveals
bloating, crepitus (gas trapped within the tissues), and a dark discoloration
of the skin around the perineal (between the pubis and the anus) area.
Aspiration of the subcutaneous space yields a brown-black liquid with a
sickeningly sweet odor.  A culture of the liquid is sent off to confirm 
the diagnosis. Aggressive treatment is started, although the chances 
are very likely that the woman will die despite all effort.

	1) What is the condition called?
	2) What is the cause of the condition?
	3) What is the cause of the condition?
		Note: #2 is a difficult question whereas #3 is straightforward.
	4) What, in a rough way, would treatment consist of?
	5) Why is this condition no longer commonly seen?

-- 
			      Craig Werner (MD/PhD '91)
				!philabs!aecom!werner
              (1935-14E Eastchester Rd., Bronx NY 10461, 212-931-2517)
                   "Viruses do to cells what Groucho did to Freedonia."