Symptoms. Course. 



407 



the authors saw in one of their cases a duration of sixteen clays 

 before the fatal termination. The protracted form may end in 

 recovery or lead to death in consequence of enteritis, peritonitis 

 or general sepsis. 



In rare cases displacement of the intestines is seen in either 

 one of the different types. In severe cases acute dilatation of 

 the stomach or rupture of the intestines may occur. 



Course. The mild form of the disease lasts from a few 

 quarters of an hour to several hours, rarely longer, never more 



Fig. 42. Fever curve in obstruction of the mesenteric arteries. Fatal outcome. 

 (Protracted course.) 



than one day. The severe form has a duration of one to two 

 days, not infrequently only several hours ; rarely more than two 

 days and exceptionally two to three weeks, in the latter case it 

 is characterized by attacks of colic which come on after long 

 intervals. Sometimes mild cases of short duration follow each 

 other at such short intervals (soealled habitual, periodic, re- 

 curring colic) that one may at first sight gain the impression 

 that he is dealing with a single protracted attack. 



The mild form ends in recovery, provided that a displace- 

 ment of intestines or enteritis have not occurred ; but such com- 

 plications are rare in the mild type ; the severe type usually ter- 



