=Softening of the Stomach.= We have already referred to that form of softening of the stomach, which is attributed to the action of the gastric juice after death. Another form is sometimes met with, which evidently takes place during life, and in most instances is attributable to a chronic form of inflammation. It is not always easy to distinguish the two forms of softening without a knowledge of the previous history of the case. The distinction may, however, generally be made by attending to the following points:—1. The presence during life, of symptoms of disease of the stomach. 2. Appearances of congestion or inflammation, as well as softening, after death. 3. Extension of the morbid change to other portions than that affected by post-mortem softening, the latter being usually confined to the posterior portion of the cardiac end. =Cirrhosis of the Stomach.= In some obscure cases of gastric disease, upon opening the abdominal cavity in a post-mortem examination, we may at once notice a marked change in the appearance of the stomach. It presents a peculiar whiteness and opacity, an appearance which is partially due to a dulness of the peritoneal coat, in marked contrast with its usual brilliancy; at the same time the organ may be either larger or smaller than the average size. Upon removing the organ, we find it greatly increased in weight and density, and presenting a hard, gristly feel, and with so much elasticity as to fail to collapse. An incision shows the walls uniformly thickened, to the extent of six or eight times their normal condition; the whole organ is comparatively bloodless, a condition strongly in contrast with the usual appearance after death. A close inspection of such a specimen, shows the several coats—muscular, mucous and fibrous—to be remarkably alike, the thickening and increased density, resulting from the presence of a generally diffused imperfect fibrous structure, similar to that found in common fibrous tumors. The several coats of the stomach will be found unequally affected by this deposit. The submucous structure, as seen in a vertical section, being increased from ten to twenty fold, while the serous with the subserous may be increased seven to ten fold. The muscular tunic may be found from five to eight times its normal thickness, while the mucous membrane proper, is seldom more than double. Notwithstanding the bloodless character of the walls of the stomach in this disease, the abnormal condition is unquestionably the result of a chronic form of inflammation. The symptoms during life are usually obscure, and although the hard contracted stomach may form a sort of epigastric tumor, noticeable upon the surface, the absence of acute symptoms, with the age at which the disease makes its appearance—usually between twenty and thirty—permits of a ready distinction being made between this disease and cancer, with which it might otherwise be confounded.