A postmortem was made five
hours after death, and there was so much destruction of the
stomach by a process resembling digestion that only the pyloric
and cardiac orifices were visible. Hanford suggests that this was
an instance of antemortem digestion of the stomach which
physiologists claim is impossible.
Nearly all cases of rupture of the stomach are due to carcinoma,
ulcer, or some similar condition, although there have been
instances of rupture from pressure and distention. Wunschheim
reports the case of a man of fifty-two who for six months
presented symptoms of gastric derangement, and who finally
sustained spontaneous rupture of the posterior border of the
stomach due to overdistention. There was a tear two inches long,
beginning near the cardiac end and running parallel to the lesser
curvature. The margin of the tear showed no evidence of
digestion. There were obstructing esophageal neoplasms about 10
1/3 inches from the teeth, which prevented vomiting. In reviewing
the literature Wunschheim found only six cases of spontaneous
rupture of the stomach. Arton reports the case of a negro of
fifty who suffered from tympanites. He was a hard drinker and had
been aspirated several times, gas heavily laden with odors of the
milk of asafetida being discharged with a violent rush.
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