INFECTIONS OF THE DIGESTIVE TRACT 91 



How far the excessive use of meat that is raw or 

 slightly cooked may influence the production of anaerobic 

 states in the digestive tract it is at present impossible 

 to say, but it seems not unlikely that there are cases 

 of excessive intestinal putrefaction dependent on the 

 excessive activity of anaerobes hi which the conditions 

 of anaerobiosis are distinctly favored by excessive meat 

 eating. 



THE INFLUENCE OF THE EPITHELIAL CELLS LINING 

 THE DIGESTIVE TRACT 



We know at present little of the influence of changes 

 in the epithelia lining the digestive tract upon the 

 physiology and pathology of the human organism. 

 There are, however, certain general considerations that 

 require mention here. It may be safely assumed that 

 every cell possesses a certain life potentiality ; that is, 

 has an inherent capacity if undisturbed by injurious 

 agencies to live a certain period of time. Every 

 epithelial cell of the digestive tract doubtless pos- 

 sesses a high capacity for reproduction. This power 

 must, nevertheless, be a limited one, and if the cells of 

 the digestive tract be injured by too many demands 

 upon them, they may fail after a time to reproduce 

 normally. Superficial cells which have under these 

 circumstances undergone desquamation are thus not 

 so easily replaced. It may happen that in some portions 

 of the digestive tract the epithelial layer is much thinner 

 than normal, owing to excessive desquamation as com- 

 pared with their power of reproduction. For example, 



