TYPHOUS DEPOSIT.
In the form of continued fever anatomically characterized by alteration of structure in the glandular textures of the small intestine, a peculiar substance of new formation (as first accurately described by M. Louis*) is dis covered in the cellular membrane between the mucous and muscular coats of the patches of agminated glands of Peyer. The propor tion of cases of continued fever of intestinal type in which this deposit occurs, has been differently estimated from less than one third of the cases to nearly the entire number. We have found this matter hoinogeneous in aspect, of pinkish or yellowish hue (the former acci dental), and from a sixth to a quarter of an inch thick ; we have always seen it more or less firm and tenacious, and never succeeded in catching it in its earlier stage of fluid blastema. Examined under the microscope by Bohm + it appeared utterly destitute of structure, and so it commonly is. But in some instances, in addition to granular matter lying in a structureless substance, remnants of cells may be detected, and, more ,rarely still, nucleated cells of unbroken outline, some larger, others smaller than the red blood corpuscle. Epithelium cells are often acci
dentally present, as also oil globules.
That the main clement of this material is of protein-basis may be inferred from its general properties. Buzzorini* gives its composition from direct analysis as follows, —fibrin, phos phate of lime, lactate and hydrochlorate of soda, and traces of other salts of the blood. Under the microscope acetic acid renders the basis more or less transparent ; its effect on the cells seems to vary.
We have seen matter of similar character in the mesenteric glands; and we cannot affirm that the intestine and these glands are its sole seats, not having looked for it in other parts of the body of typhoid patients.