PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION 



That a third edition of this little work should be called 

 for is gratifying evidence that it is still serving a useful 

 purpose. I have endeavoured to render it even more use- 

 ful by including chapters on those derangements of the 

 intestines which on post-mortem so often reveal them- 

 selves as the cause of death, I refer to actual twists or 

 to displacements of the double colon. Further new 

 chapters will be found, too, on Subacute Obstruction of 

 the Caecum, on The Spontaneous Reduction of the 

 Bowel in Torsion, and on The Comparative Rarity of 

 Enteritis. 



Some of the new matter may be, and I believe is, con- 

 troversial. Where such is the case, however, I wish it 

 to be understood that I have inserted it with two definite 

 objects in view : (i) To give greater prominence to those 

 conditions which many of us, I fear, are apt to dismiss in 

 far too casual a manner ; (2) to place any new matter in 

 such a light that others may be induced to add their 

 experiences and to carry the work on a stage further. 



In the new portion of the book my thanks are due 

 firstly to Professor Gofton for furnishing me with his 

 views on Caecal Impaction, and secondly to Major- 

 General Fred. Smith for allowing me to embody in the 

 final chapters certain sections from his ' Manual of 

 Physiology.' My thanks for this latter material can best 



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