CHRONIC GASTRO-INTESTINAL CATARRH IN THE HORSE. 85 



harder to the touch, is oftentimes perceptible to the naked eye. 

 (For ulcerations happening in the course of chronic catarrh of the 

 stomach, see Ulcers of the Stomach.) 



In the exceptional cases where the catarrh is serious and of long 

 standing, the mucous membrane of the pouch also presents altera- 

 tions. Siedamgrotzky has found considerable thickening in it, five- 

 fold the normal dimensions and extending over a surface equal to 

 that of the hand ; the surface of the mucous membrane was mam- 

 millated, covered with white and horny epithelial masses produced 

 by irregular hypertrophy of the papillae, and mainly by an abun- 

 dant epithelial proliferation ; the lesions of the right portion of the 

 mucous membrane were nearly similar. We have ourselves made 

 analogous observations. Histological alterations can only be de- 

 tected by a very detailed study. At the outset they consist of an 

 increase in volume of the glandular canals, which seems due to the 

 infiltration of epithelial cells; soon proliferation of the inter-gland- 

 ular and submucous connective tissue commences; gradually it 

 causes an atrophy of the glandular tissue by pressure, also contrac- 

 tion and reduction of the canals, fatty degeneration, and destruction 

 pf the epithelial cells. Ziegler's researches have a tendency to 

 demonstrate that atrophy of the glandular cells constitutes the 

 fundamental alteration ; hypertrophy of the connective tissue being 

 looked upon as secondary and accessory. Friedberger has observed 

 a case where the, mucous membrane was indurated and atrophied ; 

 the epithelial covering was absent ; the glandular canals were 

 reduced and depressed, the inter-glandular connective tissue, on the 

 contrary, was hypertrophied ; the remaining glands had a less 

 abundant epithelium than normal. 



According to Bruckmiiller, the lenticular projections and villous 

 productions which are found on the mucous membrane are formed 

 by hypertrophied papillae, while the large pustules and the polypous 

 formations are known to be caused by abundant proliferation of 

 the glandular tissue. Connective-tissue hyperplasia is quite often 

 extended to the submucous tissue, even to the myolemma and the 

 subserous tissue ; in such instances the muscular fibres are atrophied. 

 In cases of this kind there is often a more or less marked dilatation 

 of the stomach. We may also observe hypertrophy of the muscular 

 tissue, although this is quite rare. 



2. The pathological anatomy of chronic catarrh of the intestine 

 is almost identical with the same disease of the stomach. The 



