ACUTE GASTRITIS. 621 



often intensely red or dark purple. Sometimes we observe 

 minute ulcerous sores and patches, which have suffered denu- 

 dation by the removal of the membrane from the severity of 

 the local action and molecular change. 



Between the gland-structures various changes of textural 

 elements may be observed in different stages of progression. 

 The secretion of gastric juice is disturbed, and the surface 

 of the membrane in part covered with a closely adherent, 

 ropy, blood-coloured mucus entangling numerous cell-growths. 

 Appearances of a somewhat similar character are observed in 

 different parts of the intestines in all gastric inflammations 

 resulting from mineral irritants. 



In those cases which follow the ingestion of the vegetable 

 irritants mentioned, the appearances are tolerably uniform. 

 In the mouth and fauces there is frequently a considerable 

 amount of frothy saliva, with increased secretion in the oeso- 

 phagus. The stomach is moderately full of ingesta largely 

 composed of the foliage of the plant which has acted dele- 

 teriously; the mucous membrane is much congested, pulpy, 

 and swoUen from infiltration into the submucous tissue, and 

 from change in the cell-elements of the tubuli; there are patches 

 of stringy tenacious mucus adhering at various points of the 

 membrane, over which the orifices of the gastric follicles are 

 observed open and dilated. Sometimes the inflammatory state 

 of the organ is not confined to the mucous membrane ; it ex- 

 tends to the peritoneal covering not merely of the stomach 

 itself, but also to the loose omentum, while effused fluid may be 

 found in the peritoneal cavity of a straw or reddish-brown colour. 



Symptoms. — Those instances which have come under my 

 own observation, where on examination after death an inflamed 

 state of the gastric membrane was evident, were marked 

 during life by the usual symptoms of abdominal pain of a per- 

 sistent character ; or where the pain was not absolutely con- 

 tinuous, the animal steadily exhibited an anxious and de- 

 pressed condition, quickened respiration, with a frequent, 

 rather hard, and wiry pulse. There were also frequent and 

 partial sweatings over different parts of the body, particularly 

 the sides of the neck and shoulders, and an intermittent turn- 

 ing of the head towards the side. 



Although in the case of irritant poisons there is a certain 



