Phlegmonous Gastritis.

This condition, I am inclined to think, is usually overlooked and an erroneous diagnosis is made. A recent writer refers to it as a rare form of gastric inflammation which is characterized by the presence of pus and serum diffused throughout the walls of the stomach, or localized in the walls. It is caused by the entrance of a virulent organism through the mucous membrane. It is most common with intemperate men.

There is thirst, local pain and tenderness, usually vomiting and fever with a rapid pulse, with the general symptoms of peritonitis. These are soon increased greatly, there is rapid failure, finally collapse and death. It may run its entire course in twenty-four hours-about five days is the average period. A few cases are prolonged to from ten days to two weeks.

But few cases have been diagnosed in time to save the patient's life. The prognosis is very grave and so far the treatment adopted has been of no avail beyond the relief of pain. In addition to the lesions found in the stomach the enveloping peritoneum is usually involved in the purulent inflammation. Bacteriologic examination has shown a pure culture of the streptococcus; in the circumscribed forms of the disease there is probably a mixed infection.

Ellingwood's Therapeutist, Vol. 2, 1908, was edited by Finley Ellingwood M.D.