=Dilatation= of the œsophagus may result from the presence of stricture. When the latter is near the cardiac orifice of the stomach, the entire length of the tube may be involved. The walls in these cases may be either thickened or thinned. From the accumulation of food above the point of stricture, the walls gradually yield to the distending force, until a degree of dilatation is attained that is quite remarkable. =Tumors= of various kinds are occasionally found within the walls of the pharynx or œsophagus including cystic, fatty and fibrinous tumors of a polypoid form. _Malignant or cancerous_ growths may appear in any part of the tube, the epithelial form being more common. Beginning in the submucous tissue, the disease will soon involve the whole circumference of the tube, to the extent of from one to three or four inches, producing a hardness of the tissues with more or less contraction. Ulceration ultimately taking place, a dilated cavity may take the place of the original stricture. Section IV. OF THE PERICARDIUM. [=Notice=: 1. _External characters_—shape; measurement; amount of fat, etc. 2. _Contents_—serum; quantity; color; how affected by heat; blood; quantity; character; source. 3. _Internal surface_—adhesions; their position, extent and character; as firm, soft, etc.] The pericardium is subject to the same affections as other serous membranes, including _inflammation_, _adhesions_, _effusions_ or _morbid growths_. =Inflammation= of the pericardium or _pericarditis_, is characterized by an unusual dryness of the surface, with injection of the vessels in the early stage, while at a later period a layer of plastic lymph will be found adhering to the surfaces. The deposit may be limited to some small portion, or be distributed over the whole inner surface of the membrane and upon the exterior of the heart, giving them the appearance of having been smeared over with some sticky substance. Often the surfaces are rough or villous in appearance, like the mucous membranes of the intestines. Irregular calcareous patches are sometimes found in old chronic cases, developed within the thickened portions of the membrane. =Adhesions= may also form between the surfaces in contact. The whole cavity may in this manner become obliterated, or bands of adhesion may be found here and there.