j 8 2 DILA TA TION AND DESTR UCT10N 



such a result, it ends fatally. Still, we meet with 

 many instances, where serious local damage has hap- 

 pened, as, for example, where permanent local para- 

 lysis follows continued fever, diphtheria, and scarlatina, 

 or destruction of the delicate textures which form the 

 nervous portion of the organs of sight and hearing, 

 especially as a consequence of the last condition. Nor 

 is- prolonged or permanent derangement of the health 

 and imperfect nutrition an uncommon consequence of 

 the changes effected in and around the capillaries in 

 many cases of different kinds of contagious fever, 

 which are due to the entrance of disease germs into 

 the blood. A very good notion of the sort of change 

 which occurs may be formed if the great alterations 

 which are induced in the villi as a consequence of 

 cholera, be carefully studied. 



If such changes have affected an extensive tract 

 of small intestine, it will be seen that the proper 

 functions of this important surface can never again be 

 properly discharged. Although, no doubt, in the 

 healthy state there is a much greater extent of absorb- 

 ing surface than is really required, it must be obvious 

 that if this be very much reduced, as is the case after 

 ?. severe attack of cholera, the effective absorbing area 

 will be too limited to take up the quantity of nutri- 

 ment required to maintain the body in a state of health 

 and vigour. Nor, after a careful consideration of the 

 serious changes induced in the vessels and other tissues 

 of the villi in cholera, shall we be surprised that serious 



