uliar distortion
of the shape of the stomach follows cicatrization of ulcers of greater
or lesser curvature; the gastric cavity becomes "hour-glass" in shape.
In addition, the stomach may be displaced downwards as a whole, a
condition known as gastroptosis: if the pyloric portion only be
displaced, the lesion is termed pyloroptosis. Ptoses of other abdominal
organs are described; the liver, transverse colon, spleen and kidneys
may be involved. Displacements downwards of the stomach and transverse
colon, along with a movable right kidney and associated with dyspepsia
and neurasthenia, form the malady termed by Glenard enteroptosis. A
general visceroptosis often occurs in those patients who have some
tuberculous lesion of the lungs or elsewhere, this disease causing a
general weakening and subsequent stretching of all ligaments.
Displacements of the abdominal viscera are almost invariably accompanied
by symptoms of dyspepsia of a neurotic type. The rectum is liable to
prolapse, consequent upon constipation and straining at stool, or
following local injuries of the perineal floor.

Influence of the nervous system.

Every pathological lesion shown by digestive organs is closely
associated with the state of the nervous system, general or local; so
stoppage of active gastric digestive processes after profound nervous
shock, and occurrence of nervous diarrhoea from the same cause. Gastric
dyspepsia of nervous origin presents most varied and contradictory
symptoms: diminished acidity of the gastric juice, hyper-acidity,
over-production, arrest of secretion, lessened or increased movements,
greater sensitiveness to the presence of contents, dilatation or spasm.
Often the nervous cause can be traced back farther,--in females,
frequently to the pelvic organs; in both sexes, to the condition of the
blood, the brain or the bowel. Unhealthy conditions related to
evacuation of the bowel-contents commonly induce reflex nervous
manifestations of abnormal character referred to the stomach and liver.
Gastric disturbances similarly react upon the proper conduct of
intestinal functions.

_Local Diseases._

_The Mouth._--The lining membrane of the cheeks inside the mouth, of the
gums and the under-surface and edges of the tongue, is often the seat of
small irritable ulcers, usually associated with some digestive
derangement. A crop of minute vesicles known as Koplik's spots over
these parts has been lately stated by Koplik to be a