The faeces of children and adults : their examination and diagnostic significance with indications for treatment / by P.J. Cammidge.

  • Cammidge, P. J. (Percy John), 1872-
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The faeces of children and adults : their examination and diagnostic significance with indications for treatment / by P.J. Cammidge. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    diarrhoea of a very offensive character consequent on ulceration of the growth. In other cases, owing to the catarrli which so frequently accompanies carcinoma of the bowel, periods of severe diarrhoea may occur ; but it is unusual for diarrhoea to persist throughout the course of the disease. As a rule, diarrhoea and constipation alternate. Mucus may be absent, or present in large quantities, depending upon the degree of the coincident catarrh. Blood as we have seen, is usually present, although it may be only in minute quantities recognizable by dehcate chemical tests. Pus is only met with in cases where there is ulceration, and generally occurs in quantities directly commensurate with the loss of surface. In deeply ulcerated growths of the colon, pus may be fairly plentiful. The existence of any two of these pathological conditions points to a diagnosis of cancer of the colon ; in fact, a mixture of blood and muco-purulent masses occurs practically in only one other condition, dysenteric ulceration, which is differentiated by other symptoms In carcinoma of the rectum all the above symptoms occur with increased intensity. The stools are very frequent, much blood and pus are passed, and they often have a gangrenous odour In rare cases where the growth has ulcerated extensively, particles of the sloughed material may be found in the stools. Chemical analysis of the fsces in cases of mahgnant disease of the intestine excepting for the very frequent occurrence of occult blood, does not help in the diagnosis. An excess of mucus may be found, a well- marked reaction for albumin may be obtained, and there may be a high percentage of inorganic ash, especially when the growth is situated in the colon. When the mesenteric glands are involved, so that absorption by the lacteals is interfered with, an abnormaUy high proportion of unabsorbed fat will be found, and this is also the case when the pancreas or its ducts are affected. INTESTINAL INDIGESTION. Disturbances of digestion are the commonest of disorders and while in a considerable number of cases they are comparatively trivial in character and quickly yield to dietetic and medicinal treatment, in others they are of a more chronic ^YPe and chrag on for months or years. Surgery may reheve '^^'^^^f']'';^'^'?' when there is a structural lesion, such as ulcer or Jl^^ation of he stomach, underlying the condition, but in many there no ^^^^ gross anatomical change to account for the -or^'^^^nceo^^^^^^ symptoms which are due to the chemical and bacteriological awSies in the contents of the alimentary tract arising from functional changes in the digestive organs.