Functional & organic diseases of the stomach / by Sidney Martin.

  • Martin, Sidney, 1860-
Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Functional & organic diseases of the stomach / by Sidney Martin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    410/568 (page 386)
    vomiting, i.e. when the stomach is full of liquid, dyspnoea is often present; and may be ascribed to the enlarged and heavy organ interfering mechanically with the action of the dia- phragm and the expansion of the lungs. Eapidity of the pulse, or irregularity, is also sometimes present, palpitation being a frequent symptom complained of by these patients. This must be mainly a reflex effect of the dilated organ. Eelief is given to these symjDtoms by removal of the stomach contents. Effect on General Nutrition.—In chronic cases of dilatation, especially when there is bacterial fermentation, general wasting is frequently observed, and there may be great emaciation. This is seen in cases of simple (non-obstructive) dilatation as well as in the obstructive form. In simple dilatation, it is clue chiefly to the greatly diminished amount of food which is absorbed; and this is partly due to the fact that the patient takes little food owing to the distress it causes, but also to the fact that this small amount of food is imperfectly digested, a portion of it undergoes bacterial fermentation, and a not inconsiderable portion is vomited. In cases of obstructive dilatation these conditions are more marked; hence the wasting is greater, but it is greatly aided in this case by the presence of a malignant growth not only in the stomach itself, but in the liver and peritoneum. The great improvement in general nutrition which follows the treatment of dilated stomach, even in cancer, demonstrates that the wasting observed is largely clue to the conditions present in dilatation of the organ. Effect on the Intestines.— As a rule the bowels are ob- stinately constipated in dilatation of the stomach, but they may become loose and offensive when there is bacterial decom- position along the intestinal tract. There may be associated dilatation of the intestines, usually of the large gut, which is greatly distended with gas; in some instances the small gut is similarly distended, but the condition is a passing one. Effect on the Urine.—A small quantity of urme is passed, of high specific gravity, and containing often an excess of phosphates and a large quantity of ethereal hydrogen sul- phates (p. 119).