THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 535 



ATROPHY AND DEGENERATION. 



Atrophy of the stomach occurs in a variety of cachectic conditions, 

 in chronic inflammation, and in stenosis of the cardiac orifice. 



FIG. 307. FATTY DEGENERATION OF THE EPITHELIUM OF THE GASTRIC TUBULES IN PHOSPHORUS 



POISONING. 



Albuminous Degeneration of the epithelium may occur in infectious 

 diseases and in inflammation of the stomach. 



Fatty Degeneration is often associated with arsenic and phosphorus 

 poisoning (Fig. 307). 



Amyloid Degeneration of the small vessels is associated with a similar 

 process in other parts of the body. 



INFLAMMATION. (Gastritis.) 



Acute Catarrhal Gastritis is usually due to the ingestion of irritating 

 decomposing or infectious substances and may accompany general infec- 

 tious diseases. 



After death the mucous membrane may be congested and swollen, 

 or the congestion may have disappeared. The mucous membrane is 

 coated with an increased amount of mucus, especially at the pyloric end 

 of the stomach. 



The structural changes in the mucous membrane consist chiefly in 

 swelling and albuminous degeneration, and sometimes exfoliation of the 

 epithelium with an increase in the production of mucus by the cylindrical 

 cells (Fig. 308), while the intertubular tissue and the submucosa may be 

 oedematous and contain a few emigrated leucocytes. The solitary lymph- 

 nodules may be enlarged from hyperplasia and haemorrhagic erosions 

 may be present. 



Chronic Gastritis. This, with the continuance of the exciting condi- 

 tions, may follow the acute form. It is often associated with the persis- 

 tent use of alcohol, with ulcers and carcinoma, with venous congestion 

 from heart lesions, cirrhosis of the liver, obstruction of the portal vein 

 or ascending vena cava, or chronic diffuse nephritis. These are doubtless 

 predisposing conditions rather than actual excitants of the disease. 



