Functional Disorders of the Colon

The Incidence and Treatment of Diseases of the Colon

“…In 10% the complaint of constipation was not justified, the rate of passage both of charcoal and of a barium meal being normal. In 1,000 cases in which there w-as real delay shown radiologically, in half the whole colon was involved, in a third the sigmoid and rectum, and in 11% the rectum only [13]. Nearly a quarter of the 1,000 patients were unaware that they were constipated, and of these nine out of ten had no other disorder referable to the colon.…”

“…The diagnosis of inte8tinal auto-intoxication must be regarded with suspicion. In 90 cases admitted to our clinic [13] with a diagnosis of intestinal auto-intoxication 32 were suffering from organic disease, such as pepticulcer, 8 cases, diverticulitis 7, cholecystitis 6, syphilis 3, rectal gromth 2, and others from heart disease, nephritis and gout. When these and the neurasthenias from various stresses were separated out, a few cases remnained in which the bowel, apart from organicdisease, could be regarded as the cause of the symptoms.…”

“…In the treatment of mucous colitis, the calm which follows a diagnosis made after a careful investigation, the confident discussion and ventilation of circumstances and difficulties, a complete change, a sensible regime of food, and the initiation of a normal habit of bowel are as important as the physical and medicinal aids that are also used [13]. The disease has become less common of late.…”