Ulcerative Colitis
One or two cases treated by coli vaccine seemed to give encouraging results, and this supported the relation between the coli group of organisms and ulcerative colitis, but it is only fair to add that in other instances coli vaccine failed.
Abstract
been found above the ileocecal valve. Further, the colitis which is found associated with cases of urammia shows how poisons excreted into the large intestine can produce ulceration. If the causal poison enters the large intestine froml above or through the blood-stream an adequate explanation is afforded why operation only partially relieves the condition. The interesting case recorded by Mr. Makins at the last meeting brings out this aspect of the problem in an interesting way. He opened the ascending colon in a bad case; the patient gradually lost his symptoms, put on weight and was able to lead a fairly active life as long as the artificial opening acted and the faecal stream was diverted. If, however, this patient had a bout of anxiety or worry mucus and blood would for a time come through the opening from the proximal end of the bowel. These symptoms could not have been due to ulceration, or the operation would not have cured the patient. The same idea impressed itself on Dr. Dawson's mind with regard to mucous colitis. In several cases of this condition he had the faeces examined because he noticed that sometimes they were pale, greasy and fetid, and analysis showed that the fat digestion was sometimes so deficient as.to point to the pancreas being affected. In cases of sprue it had several times been shown that the pancreas had undergone change. Turning to treatment at the London Hospital, appendicostomy had been found to do good in some cases, but the patients seemed unable to return to anything like the rough and tumble of life; if they attempted to do so they seemed to easily relapse. One or two cases treated by coli vaccine seemed to give encouraging results, and this supported the relation between the coli group of organisms and ulcerative colitis. But it is only fair to add that in other instances coli vaccine failed.