The diagnostics and treatment of tropical diseasesStitt, E. R. (Edward Rhodes)
Science
The diagnostics and treatment of tropical diseases
Stitt, E. R. (Edward Rhodes)
Tropical medicine
The cholera spirillum does not produce a soluble toxin, the toxic
principle being intracellular. The organism rarely penetrates
more deeply than just under the epithelial layer of the glands of
Lieberkühn. As a result of the outpouring of the fluid into the lumen
of the gut we have an increase in the red cells (7,000,000 per cu.
mm.) and leucocytosis of from 12,000 to 50,000. The specific gravity
of the blood is greatly raised, 1073 to 1078, and the alkalinity
diminished. The blood pressure is markedly lowered, 60 mm. in very
severe cases and 75 mm. in less severe ones.
The lower portion of the small intestines is the favorite location
for the action of the endotoxin of cholera. Early and marked
postmortem rigidity is a striking characteristic of the cholera
cadaver. Muscular contractions, causing odd positions of the
limbs, have at times given a basis for the idea that the victim had
been buried alive.
Besides marked rigor mortis the emaciation, leaden hue of skin and
shrivelled hands are noteworthy.
In opening up the body there is a striking dryness of all the
structures. The dry and dark-red muscles stand out prominently.
The lungs are dry and shrunken. The right heart is full of a dark,
jelly-like, viscid blood. The leading changes are found in the
abdomen. The omentum is dry, sticky and shrivelled looking. The
intestines have a ground glass appearance with a lilac-pink color of
the small intestines which is in contrast with the normal color of
the large intestines.
There is congestion of the affected intestinal mucosa and the lumen
is filled with the alkaline rice-water material. If the case is of
some days standing we have a rather brownish, foul-smelling bowel
content. There is usually a parenchymatous nephritis and on section
the medullary portion is much congested.
Crowell gives the following points as indicating cholera upon
autopsy: (1) Cyanotic finger nails, (2) dry tissues, (3) dry and
sticky peritoneum with pink serosa of ileum, (4) contracted and empty
urinary bladder, (5) shrunken dry spleen and liver, (6) rice-water
intestinal contents and (7) prominence of lymphoid tissues in the
ileum.
In his studies of the pathology of cholera Greig drew attention to
the frequency of the involvement of the gall-bladder. He also noted
the presence of small areas of consolidation in the lungs of those
developing pneumonia during the early days of convalescence. In the
exudates of such areas cholera vibrios could be seen thus showing
their penetration of the lung. Although rare instances of recovery
of the cholera spirillum from the blood have been reported Greig
was unable to accomplish this in any instance. In his opinion the
spirilla travel by way of the lymphatic system. In eight cases out
of fifty-five cases he recovered the spirilla from the urine.
SYMPTOMATOLOGY
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