Gold-beater's Skin is a thin material prepared from the large intestine of the ox, formerly used by gold-beaters and sometimes in surgery. Research Gold-beater's Skin
Amebiasis is a protozoan parasitic infection caused by the ameba Entamoeba histolytica, which lives in the large intestine of humans as part of the residentflora. Humans contract the infection is acquired by ingesting food or water contaminated with faeces. It occurs most often in poor countries where the standards of public hygiene and sanitation are low. Once ingested, the incubation period varies from a few days to several months. In rare cases, the symptoms may not appear for years. Entamoeba histolytica competes with the host for food in the large intestine. It multiples by simple division. Protective cysts develop and the organism is passed out with faeces. The cysts can survive long periods before the next host acquires them. Some strains of the ameba are harmless and the people carrying them show no symptoms. Other strains invade the intestinal wall causing bleeding and mucus secretion and diarrhoea. Ulcers are formed in the intestinal wall where the ameba gain access to the bloodstream and move to the liver and/or brain. Symptoms of severe amebiasis include persistent moderate to severe diarrhoea, jaundice, abdominal discomfort and in severe cases the development of an abscess in the liver or in the brain. Research Amebiasis
Appendicitis is a disease which became well-known during the 19th century. It consists in inflammation of the vermiformappendix of the large intestine, a somewhat wormlike hollow body, several inches long, projecting from and opening into the intestine, but closed at the opposite extremity. In appendicitis proper the inflammation begins in the appendix and spreads to neighbouring parts, and thus the disease is sometimes included under the term perityphlitis, which more strictly belongs to inflammation connected with the caecum, and not necessarily with the appendix.
Appendicitis is usually set up by more or less hard bodies that become lodged in the appendix, especially particles of food that have not been sufficiently masticated. The disease may be very slight, lasting for a day or two, and accompanied with some pain and sickness; or it may take a severe and violent form, the result being death in a few hours. Death may also occur at a longer interval, when an abscess forms, which bursts into the abdominal cavity. There are also cases of chronic and of relapsing appendicitis, and in these removal of the organ is necessary. Some surgeons resort to removal of the appendix in all cases of the disease. The usual symptoms are such as pain in the belly, especially low down on the right side, fever, constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Early remedies were such as rest in bed, hot fomentations or poultices applied to the belly, with opium to relieve pain, food being given in small quantities, in the fluid form and hot. During the 20th century surgery became the preferred treatment, the appendix being cut out by a surgeon. Research Appendicitis
Balantidiasis is an infection caused by cysts of the protozoan Balantidiumcoli. Balantidiumcoli is the largest and only ciliated protozoan that is pathogenic to humans. The protezoa is a normal inhabitant of the domestic pig. Cysts are excreted in the faeces of pigs and are transmitted to humans through the food or water that comes in contact with the faeces. The incubation period of the cysts is unknown, but is believed to be only a few days. The cysts are swallowed by the new host and carried to the large intestine of humans where they cause diarrhea. In severe cases, the protozoa inhabit the intestinal wall causing painful ulcers and abscesses. In extreme cases, the protozoa then cause dysentery and death. In underdeveloped countries with poor sanitation habits and poor hygiene methods epidemics may arise from faecally contaminated water. The infection is diagnosed by the presence of the cysts in fecal samples of the infected host. Research Balantidiasis
The cecum is the large, primary section of the large intestine, which accepts fluid food-by-products from the ileum of the small intestine through the ileocecal orifice. About eight centimeters long, the cecum transmits this by-product to the ascending section of the colon. Research Cecum
Colic (named from colon, a portion of the large intestine), is a painful disorder of the bowels, usually of a spasmodic character, unaccompanied by diarrhoea, and presenting itself in various forms. When the pain is accompanied with a vomiting of bile or with obstinate costiveness it is called a bilious colic; if with windy distension, it takes the name of flatulent or windy colic; if with heat and inflammation, it takes the name of inflammatory colic, or enteritis. 'There are many other varieties of this complaint, some of which are peculiar to certain occupations or districts, as the painters colic and the Devonshire colic. Research Colic
The colon is the central part of the large intestine. Extending from the cecum to the rectum, it is descriptively subdivided into four parts: the ascending, the transverse, the descending, and the sigmoid colon. The ascending colon extends upward from the cecum to lead into the transverse portion. The transverse extends across the abdominal cavity from the end of the ascending part to lead into the descending section of the colon. The descending colon extends from the end of the transverse colon to the sigmoid colon. The sigmoid colon connects the end of the descending colon to the rectum. The rectal and sigmoid sections are often referred to as the rectosigmoid. Research Colon
Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder. It is characterised by frequent, and painful passing of urine and may be caused by either a bacterial infection - usually bacteria straying from their natural habitat in the large intestine into the urethra and the bladder - or by crystalline deposits in the urine. Research Cystitis
Enterobiasis is a disease, common in children, caused by infestation of the large intestine with nematodes of the genus Enterobius, especially Enterobius vermicularis, the pinworm. Research Enterobiasis
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Gold-beater's Skin
