36 THE ACTION OF THE LIVING CELL 



material are readily obtained by means of the gyro- 

 mele. 



The introduction of mild irritants into the stomach 

 of an animal results in pathological changes which 

 render the mucosa a satisfactory culture medium for 

 the growth of microorganisms. In his early experi- 

 ments the author found that if a dog's stomach is 

 washed out daily with tannic acid for a period of 

 two weeks and then inoculated with material taken 

 from the stomachs of patients suffering with gastritis, 

 the bacteria grow readily and by their growth induce 

 a series of tissue changes resulting in a pathological 

 picture identical with that found in cases of gastritis 

 in humans. (Turck, 1896.) 



First the gland cells become enlarged and cloudy, 

 numerous leucocytes appear on the surface and 

 marked hyperemia is evident. After the lapse of a 

 few months the cellular changes appear more marked, 

 cystic degeneration of some glands occurring while 

 others undergo a metamorphosis into mucoid glands. 

 Eventually there is an extensive round cell infiltra- 

 tion and connective tissue formation, while the sur- 

 face becomes coated with leucocytes. This pathologi- 

 cal picture is distinctly analogous to that obtained by 

 the action of mustard upon the stomach mucosa. 

 Hence again we may reasonably postulate the inter- 

 vention of a common factor resulting from tissue 

 injury. 



It was easily supposed that the general toxic effect 

 which accompanies gastritis was due to the absorption 

 of toxins generated by the bacteria growing in the 

 stomach. This was of course a natural supposition. 

 Since, however, much the same state of affairs may 



