INFECTIONS OF THE DIGESTIVE TRACT 305 



cells. Sooner or later a definite and increasing dispro- 

 portion arises between the destruction and reproduction 

 of red blood cells, and under these circumstances there 

 arises a slowly or more rapidly progressive anaemia. 



In some instances which I have classed as falling into 

 the category of the simple saccharo-butyric type of putre- 

 faction, depressive mental symptoms have been noted. 

 In some of these cases an abundant growth of Gram- 

 positive diplococci or streptococci have been found in 

 the fermentation tubes. Whether these microorganisms 

 have any part in the production of neurotoxic substances 

 is uncertain. It has been mentioned that B. aerogenes 

 capsulatus is said to make poisons capable of acting on 

 the nervous system, but the bearing of this fact upon 

 human symptoms is still obscure. As a rule well marked 

 nervous symptoms have not been a feature in the class 

 of cases to which the term saccharo-butyric putrefaction 

 has been applied. 



In the course of time, in well-marked instances of the 

 saccharo-butyric type of excessive chronic intestinal 

 putrefaction, there has been observed a considerable loss 

 in weight and a diminution in muscular powers. In 

 spite of a fairly good appetite patients are unable to gain 

 either in weight or in strength. Frequently the indica- 

 tions of premature senility are evident. This is notice- 

 able in an atrophy of the subcutaneous fat in premature 

 wrinkling of the skin. A loss of general vigor is apt to 

 be associated with a loss in sexual power. 



