346 ALBERT. 



it forward in contact with the sternum; third, collection of fluid in the pericar- 

 dium; fourth, hsemorrhagic areas in both lungs; fifth, subcutaneous oedema in 

 the legs and chestwall. 



As is seen, these lesions correspond exactly to those found in adults 

 affected with the pernicious or cardiac form of beriberi, and the state- 

 ment of Hirota, of Tokyo, to the effect that infantile beriberi is svnip- 

 tomatically and pathologically identical with the acute cardiac form in 

 the adult is again born out. 



The full report of the autopsy findings is as follows : 



Autopsy. — Body of Pilipina infant 56 centimeters long. Rigor mortis absent. 

 Very little (Edema of ankles. Slight (Edema over chest. No oedema of face or 

 hands. The subcutaneous fat is moderately abundant and firm. The peritoneal 

 cavity is dry. The peritoneal surfaces are smooth and glistening. There is no 

 injection along the vessels leading to the umbilicus. The diaphragm reaches the 

 4th space on the right side and to the fifth rib on the left. The thymus gland 

 extends to a normal distance on top of the pericardium. There is a small amount 

 of clear fluid in each pleural cavity. 



Heart: The right auricle is considerably dilated; a post-mortem clot is found 

 inside the right auricle. The tricuspid valves are normal. The left ventricle is 

 small. The mitral valve and aortic valve are normal. The surface of the heart 

 is pale; the muscle is firm. The length of the heart from the auriculo-ventricular 

 groove to the apex is 4.5 centimeters. The walls of the left ventricle average 4 

 millimeters and of the right 4 millimeters in thickness. At the base of the aorta 

 there are a few hemorrhagic points beneath the pericardium, but no ecehymosis 

 beneath the epicardium. 



The left lung is moderately voluminous and shows few ecchyinoses beneath 

 the pleura. The color is mottled, pale, and red. The consistence, fairly firm. 

 On section the lung is pale, uniform, and apparently normal. The hemorrhagic 

 points under the pleura correspond to small areas one-half millimeter in diameter 

 extending into the substance of the lung. 



The right lung is also moderately voluminous and shows a few hemorrhagic 

 points and in general resembles the left lung. On section it also appears normal. 

 The lymph glands at the root of the lung also appear normal in size, consistence, 

 and color. The omentum and mesentery contain very little fat. The contents 

 of the duodenum is normal. 



The stomach is small, contracted, and contains 5 cubic centimeters of thick, 

 tenacious mucus mixed with a small amount of curded milk. 



The left kidney measures 4 by 2 by 2 centimeters. The capsule strips readily, 

 leaving a mottled surface. Post-mortem discolorations and traces of foetal 

 lobulation are present. On section the cortex is dark brown and post-mortem 

 change is evident. The structures are not clearly visible. 



The right kidney measures 4 by 3 by 3 centimeters and presents the same 

 general appearance as the left. 



The spleen shows post-mortem change; it measures 5 by 3 by 2 centimeters. 

 Jts consistence is firm, the edges are sharp and the capsule smooth. On section 

 the structures are clearly visible, the malpighian bodies being more conspicious 

 than normal. The pulp is firm and dark. 



The left suprarenal is apparently normal, being pale yellow in color. On 

 section the cortex is seen as a yellow-white band, with a pale, dark color. 



The trachea, larynx, and bronchi are clear. 



