MUCOUS COLITIS: A DELINEATION OF THE SYNDROME WITH CERTAIN OBSERVATIONS ON ITS MECHANISM AND ON THE RÔLE OF EMOTIONAL TENSION AS A PRECIPITATING FACTOR

Abstract

The most frequent symptoms of mucous colitis are constipation or diarrhea with mushy or pebbly stools of small calibre, abdominal discomfort aggravated during peristalsis, palpable and tender sigmoid colon, and certain minimal congestive changes of the mucosa of the rectosigmoid as observed through the eigmoidoscope. Similar mucosal changes are produced by the topical application of pilocarpine or physostigmine to the mucosa of the recto sigmoid or by the oral adm. of large doses of acetyl-beta-methylcholine or carbaminoylcholine, substances which mimic or simulate action of the parasympathetic nervous system. Psychological study of 57 patients with mucous colitis indicates psychic stimulation of parasympathetic fibers as an important causative factor in the clinical dis order.