Abstract
This work deals with the morbid - anatomical examination of 72 autopsy and 4
gastrectomy stomachs, all formalin- fixed.
The specimens were fixed according
to Magnus' rulings within a very short time
of death.
The stomachs are divided into 5
histological grades according to their health
or disease.
It is shown that the severity of
"chronic gastritis" tends to increase with
age, although it is pointed out that there are
exceptions to this statement.
Proof of the existence of physiological
ageing of the stomach was not found.
A correlation was attempted between the
incidence and severity of chronic gastritis on the one hand and infection, uraemia and other
factors on the other. Uraemia was constantly
associated with chronic gastritis, often of
severe degree. Severe chronic infections
were often associated with severe chronic
gastritis but sometimes such infections
were associated with an almost normal
gastric mucosa.
Ulceration of the stomach was found
in 15% of the adult cases. The average age
of the patients was 67 and the ulcers were
undiagnosed during life.
Erosions were discovered in 30% of
all stomachs exclusive of foetal stomachs.
The pathogenesis of erosions and
ulcers is briefly discussed. it is suggested
that a vascular origin for erosions and ulcers
is commoner than has frequently been supposed.
This is supported by the common finding of
haemorrhage in the mucosa and of all grades of
erosion between 'pure' haemorrhagic erosions
and typical miniature ulcers.
Reference is made to particular cells
of the inflamed mucosa and to 5 stomachs of
particular interest.
