The Ætiology of Retrobulbar Neuritis in Addisonian Pernicious Anæmia

Smoking and optic neuritis

“…Although tobacco is clearly implicated in the pathogenesis of tobacco amblyopia and in the optic neuropathy of pernicious anaemia (Freeman and Heaton, 1961), its possible effect on the visual prognosis in patients with optic neuritis due to multiple sclerosis had not been previously studied. In a study of cyanide metabolism and B12 levels in smokers with multiple sclerosis (Matthews, Wilson and Zilkha, 1965), there were no significant differences between patients and smoking controls, and hydroxycobalamin has been shown to be of no value in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (Simpson, Newell and Miller, 1965).…”

Beta-blockade in asthma

“…This chromosomal aberration is dominantly inherited and imposes a high risk of renal cell carcinoma at all ages, with an estimated cumulative risk of 87%' by age 59 compared with a 0-1% risk in the general population by the same age. 2 Unfortunately, the early identification of…”

Veganism: A Clinical Survey with Observations on Vitamin-B12 Metabolism

“…and yet responded to cytamen injections while continuing to smoke. Furthermore, they claimed (Freeman and Heaton, 1961) that the retrobulbar neuritis of pernicious anaemia occurred only in smokers and could be attributed, like tobacco amblyopia, to a " toxin " in tobacco.…”