AMCEB.E OF THE INTESTINAL TRACT. 155 



always one which shows by its size and the thickness 

 of the abscess wall that it is of longer duration than 

 the others. 



The contents of an amoebic abscess vary with the 

 character of the infection. In those abscesses in which 

 the amoebge are present in pure culture, the material 

 contained within them is characteristic, consisting of 

 a semi-fluid, yellowish-red, or chocolate-colored mass, 

 containing shreds of necrotic tissue, blood, a few pus 

 cells, and amoebae. This material does not resemble 

 pus unless there is a mixed infection with suppurative 

 bacteria, but if such bacteria be present the contents 

 of the liver abscess resemble that of other abscesses 

 due to bacterial agencies. 



The character of the abscess wall is typical in 

 those instances in which the amoebae are present alone. 

 Internally it is covered with shreds of necrotic tissue 

 giving it a peculiar shaggy appearance. When such 

 an abscess is washed out it will sometimes be found 

 that these necrotic shreds reach across it, and I have 

 observed cases in which all trace of liver substance 

 within the abscess had been lost, except the connective 

 tissue framework of the organ which, being more re- 

 sistent to necrosis than the other elements, still per- 

 sisted as shreds of tissue crossing the abscess cavity. 

 This typical appearance of the wall is observed most 

 frequently in medium size abscesses, as in the very 



