peach pit

— DR. IRA VAN GIESON said that he was indebted to Dr. Jenkins, of Brooklyn, for the interesting specimen which he had to present. Four years prior to the death of the patient, who was a robust man, fifty-five years of age, he was seized rather suddenly with intense epigastric pains, which were excited each time he took solid food. After about four months there was an interval during which the pain was not so severe, and then the symptoms were suggestive of pyloric stenosis, or of beginning carcinoma in this region. The man became greatly emaciated, and ultimately died of chronic phthisis. The stomach was of normal dimensions, but before opening it a solid body could be felt in the pyloric orifice, only about one-quarter of an inch in either direction. On opening the stomach a peach-pit was found embedded in the pylorus, but not projecting into the duodenum. This body seemed to act as a ball-valve, thus explaining the variation in the severity of the symptoms. If there were no stenosis present, a body capable of passing the pylorus should be able to pass the duodenum, but on examining the specimen closely, it will be seen that the junction of the duodenum with the stomach is decidedly narrowed. DR. THOMAS H. MANLEY did not think it probable that a peach-pit could resist the action of the gastric juice for four years; besides this, it did not seem to him of sufficient size to give rise to the severe pain from which the patient suffered. He would like to know the experience of the other members regarding the frequency of such foreign bodies in the stomach. DR. H. M. BIGGS could not recall having seen a single case of this kind, and Dr. Prudden recalled the infrequent occurrence of hair-balls in the stomach. The specimen from one such case, which had been shown to the Society, was in the Museum of the College of Physicians and Surgeons.