67 G ENTERITIS. 



existence of parasites in particular conditions as active induc- 

 ing factors of enteritis ; their presence even in the tube may 

 be productive of irritation sufficient to terminate in inflam- 

 mation, much more so when they take possession of the 

 structures of the walls as their habitat, and there not merely 

 disturb but become provocative of extensive and dangerous 

 tissue-changes. 



Eurther, inflammation of the whole or of portions of the 

 textural elements of the intestinal walls may manifest itself as 

 part of certain general diseased processes in some fevers and 

 constitutional diseases. 



c. Anatomical Characters. — In those rapidly progressive 

 and generally fatal forms of enteric disease, marked by much 

 sero-haimorrhagic effusion, the lesions observable on after-death 

 examination are usually of a pronounced character ; they are 

 chiefly located in the large bowel, the colon. Here, in the 

 submucous tissue of the canal, and in the subserous of the 

 attached mesentery, are extensive collections of colloid or jelly- 

 like material in the case of the submucous areas, often extend- 

 ing for several feet, elevating to the extent of two or three 

 inches the glistening and distended membrane. This gelatini- 

 form material is always more or less coloured, frequently of 

 a truly hcemorrhagic appearance ; while in rarer instances 

 colouring matter seems to have escaped from the confined 

 mass, giving a blood-stained appearance to the contained 

 ingesta. With many of these we observe that much fluid has 

 found its way into and been mingled with the contents of the 

 canal, which, although thus semifluid, have remained stationary, 

 most probably from the paralyzed condition of the muscular 

 element in the bowel. 



In other cases, where the morbid action seems less acute, 

 more distributed in patches, and occupying a different portion 

 of the canal, we may observe a disposition to the formation of 

 fibrinous or coagulable lymph ; this would seem to be thrown 

 out over the surface of the mucous membrane, and is not un- 

 frequently voided with the discharges on cessation of pain 

 and subsidence of the unnatural action. These portions of 

 discharged fibrinous lymph, not unlike diphtheritic or croupous 

 exudation material, are observed as shreds or flakes, or oftener 

 rolled together in masses, and have been mistaken, as remarked 



