Membranous enteritis has been found to depend on the presence of larva: in the intestinal canal. Henschen (Wiener klin. Rund., No. 33, '96).
_Membranous colitis is a functional neurosis and is an intestinal manifesta tion of neurasthenia. The proper treat ment is that of nerve-prostration. Men delson (Med. Record, Jan. 30, '97).
Membranous colitis considered a symp tom of enteroptosis, and is due to func tional disturbance of the liver. Hepa toptosis leads to altered vascular tension in the liver, and so to a diminished se cretion from mucous membrane of the intestine and precipitation of the mucin by the acids in the intestine. The author is in favor of a meat diet and saline purges. Glenard (Acad. de 1116d., Apr. 20, '97).
:Membranous colitis regarded as an hypersecretion of mucus in W0111C11 of a nenro-arthritic type who suffer from enteroptosis. The constipation is to be treated by giving copious enemata and castor-oil. Intestinal antiseptics, such as naphthol, resorcin, and salicylate of bismuth, should be given. Mathieu (Semaine Mad., p. 226, '97).
Secretion-neurosis is of neurotic origin and course. Both secretion-neurosis and enteritis may co-exist. Secretion-neu rosis of the colon occurs chiefly in neu rotic females (SO per cent.). It is closely associated with genital disease and is frequently preceded by constipation. The continuation of the disease is partly due to an irritable, vicious habit of ex cessive epithelial activity. The disease is characterized by colicky pains, with the evacuation of mucous masses; it is not fatal and is variable and erratic in the number of attacks, with an indefinite prognosis. Chemically the evacuations consist of much) and an albuminous sub stance. Microscopically there are seen hyaline bodies, cylindrical epithelium, cholesterin crystals, triple phosphates, round cells, various kinds of micro-organ isms, and pigment. Secretion-neurosis of the colon is comparable to the secretion neurosis of the endometrinm (membra nous dysmenorrllipa) or bronchial croup and appears to be limited chiefly to the part of the colon supplied by the inferior mesenteric ganglion: i.e., to the fmcal
reservoir (the left half of the transverse colon, the descending colon, the sigmoid, and the rectum). Bryan Robinson (Mathews's Jour. of Rectal and Gastro Int. Dis., Jan., '9S).
They may be attended with acute out breaks of hysteria, hypochondriasis, or melancholia.
The nervous complications of muco membranous enteritis are most varied, among those noted being dyspncea, pseudo-angina pectoris, generalized trem bling during digestion, inaptitude for work, headache, aphasia, temporary am nesia, infantile convulsions, coma, etc. A. Mathieu (Gaz. des Hop., Oct. 27, '94).
Two eases of colitis ob served presenting hysterical—one epi leptic and the other choreic—symptoms dependent on the condition of the in testine and disappearing as the stale of the latter improved. F. Cantru (La Med. Mod., Jan. 12, '9.5).
Prognosis.—The condition is often an obstinate one and extremely unyielding to treatment.
Membranous enteritis does not yield to treatment in the majority of cases. It may improve while the patient is under treatment, but it also improves for a time without any treatment at all. It is not a fatal complaint. People may have it for years and pass vast quanti ties of mucus, and yet look fairly well at the end of that time. It often im proves temporarily, and then returns after a short or long interval. In some eases it recurs at regular times and con tinues to do so every month or so for years. It almost always occurs in dys peptic and somewhat neurotic patients. It is essentially a disease which is af fected by the mental state of the patient. In some cases worry always brings on an attack, while freedom from care is al most essential to its cure. C. P. Crouch (Bristol Medico-Chir. Jour., Mar., '93).
The prognosis of membranous colitis is not generally grave, especially when the attacks are not very intense or when they occur at short intervals. However, the disease constitutes a serious compli cation, for it contributes greatly to pro duce eachexia and it is very rebellious to treatment. Touvenaint (Revue Inter. de Med. et de Chir., July 25, '95).