Section Iv. the Pancreas.

=Anomalies= of the pancreas are not common. It is wanting only in very imperfect monstrosities. Excess of development is very rare.

Sometimes the duct is double, up to the point of its entrance into the duodenum.

=Hypertrophy and Atrophy.= The former, when it does occur, which is rarely the case, affects chiefly the cellular tissue which is interwoven with the glandular tissue.

Atrophy often occurs spontaneously in old age, or it may result from chronic inflammation or fatty degeneration. The organ may be soft, or of a leathery consistence.

=Inflammation.= The acute form rarely occurs, and is marked by the same signs of inflammation as are observed in inflammation of similar organs.

“Chronic inflammation induces condensation, induration of the cellular tissue, obliteration of the acini, and either permanent enlargement, or subsequent atrophy of the gland.”

=Fatty Degeneration= is of frequent occurrence in drunkards, associated with fatty liver, but due to the intrusion of the surrounding adipose tissue on the wasting organ.

=Dilatation= of the ducts of the pancreas occurs from an obstruction of its outlets by pressure of a tumor, or by the presence of calcareous concretions. The dilatation may be uniform or saculated, forming cysts which may attain a considerable size.

=Cancer=, only in the forms of scirrhus and encephaloid, affects generally the head of the pancreas. It may occur primarily or secondarily. The ductus choledochus is frequently obstructed by the pressure of the tumor, and jaundice produced. The disease may extend to the duodenum, the omentum, the mesentery, liver, and even the suprarenal capsules and kidneys. As secondary cancer, it is most frequently an extension from a scirrhus pylorus.