dysentery

(dis'en-ter-I) [G. dys-, bad, entera, bowels.] disease marked clinically by frequent small stools, chiefly of blood and mucus, accompanied by pain and tenesmus; it may be acute or chronic, sporadic or epidemic, and is due to the action of a specific bacillus or of a specific ameba. ame'bic d., an ulcerative inflammation of the miucous membrane of the large intestine, caused by the presence of Entam<Bba dysenteriie, marked by the usual symptoms of d., and sometimes by extreme prostration, bac'illary d., a catarrhal, m.em.branous, or necrotic inflammation of the mucous membrane of the large intestine, due to the presence of Bacillus dysenterieB., marked by the usual symptoms of d. cil'iar d., a form of dysentery caused by infection with Balantidium col i, a protozoan parasite of the cla of Ciliaia. spirill'aT d., a form of dysentery or diarrhea, described as occurring in the south of France, believed to be caused by a spirillum present in great numbers in the intestinal epithelia.