Trelease — An Unusual Phyto-Bezoar. 495 



than two inches in diameter, with a dry weight of one or two 

 ounces. 



In the human stomach, concretions comparable with 

 bezoars have occasionally been observed. In 1894, Dr. W. 

 B. Outten* recorded one of a conical shape which measured 

 over five inches in length and about five inches in diameter in 

 its broadest portion and weighed fourteen ounces, and was 

 accompanied by another similar but somewhat smaller gastro- 

 lith weighing seven and eight-tenths ounces. These masses 

 appeared to have formed about a quantity of vegetable con- 

 nective tissue, intermingled with starch, etc., and subse- 

 quently increased by the same materials, yeast cells, etc. ; 

 and it is stated that the nucleus was formed through the 

 patient having gorged himself with bread and persimmons, 

 the fiber of which bound together the starchy matter. 



The only structures of which I have found record which 

 are closely comparable with the specimens sent by Dr. 

 Eschauzier, are described by Mr. Coville,f who records the 

 formation in the stomachs of horses of somewhat similar balls 

 (in one case, as many as thirty of which were found in the 

 stomach of a single animal), which are also occasionally 

 found in the large intestine. These balls are described as 

 uniform in all respects save size, being almost exactly 

 spherical, of yellowish-brown color, with a smooth, even sur- 

 face, and, on removal, saturated with the intestinal juices. 

 On drying, they shrank but little and varied in diameter from 

 three to four and one-half inches, and were of a dull brown 

 color, having the appearance of a fine quality of felt. In 

 texture they were so firm that the surface could not be 

 indented with the thumb, yet the weight is said to have been 

 unexpectedly light, as one about four inches in diameter 

 weighed onlj' four and three-fourths ounces. When cut open, 

 these balls were found to be solid and to consist of a uniform 

 felt-like material throughout, showing faint concentric layers 

 of slightly different color ; and a microscopical examination 



* A Case of Double Gastrolith Removed by Gaetrotomy. * * * The 

 Medical Fortnightly. St. Louis, August 15, 1894. 



f Covllle: Crimson Clover Hair Balls. Circular No. 8, U. S. Dept. of 

 Agriculture, Div. of Botany, June 15, 1896. 



