Diarrhea

(di-ar-e'-ah). An abnormal frequency of evacuation of the feces, which are watery, and sometimes acrid. D., Acute, that due to cold, or th. ingestion of improper food at chemir poisons. Tn severe forms it is a ociated with collapse, and may in rare cases be followed by death. D., Acute Inflammatory, a term including the severer forms of the catarrhal and summer diarrheas of children. It is characterized by griping, vomiting, and the pa age of offensive, watery, brown or greenish stools. The child in the latter stage of this disease presents the same appearance as that seen in advanced tuberculous meningitis pinched features, drowsine , sunken and half-closed eyes, and rapid irregular pulse and to this condition the term " spurious hydrocephalus'''' has been applied. Death frequently results from this form of diarrhea. D., Acute Summer, a term given to sudden attacks of profuse watery diarrhea occurring in children and weak adults during the prevalence of hot weather. (See Cholera infantum). D. alba. See Celiac Affection. D., Cachectic, that depending on some diathetic disease, as syphilis, scurvy, malaria, tuberculosis, and carcinoma, or else on chronic intestinal catarrh. D., Choleraic, severe, acute diarrhea of any form not readily traceable to any recognized cause. D., Choler i form. Synonym of Cholera infantum. D., Chronic Inflammatory, a diarrhea of children either following an acute attack, or developing insidiously. it stools are of a dark-brown color, thin and foul, The an d may occasionally contain a spinach-like material. There is great emaciation and anemia, and the term "consumption of the bowels, " has been given to this condition. The prognosis must be guarded. D., Chronic Tropical, Hill-diarrhea, "white flux," of India, a severe form of chronic intestinal catarrh, and e entially a tropical disease. In India it develops often in those who, after dwelling in the heat of the plains, pa to the changeable temperature of the hilly country, hence the name " Hill-diarrhea.'" The stools are copious, light, and frothy; there is progre ive failure of strength; the temperature becomes subnormal;albuminuria and edema develop, and death results in many cases from exhaustion. D. chylosa. See Celiac Affection. D., Compensatory. See D., Vicarious. D., Di ecting-room, a severe form of diarrhea resulting from exposure to the animal effluvia of the di ecting-room.