Adenocarcinoma of the Colon and Rectum

The site and the sex incidence of 555 carcinomas of the colon surgically resected at The Hospital of the Good Samaritan in Los Angeles were reviewed. Most of the carcinomas of the right and transverse colon were in female patients, and slightly more than half of the cancers of the left and rectosigmoid were in male patients. The largest tumors were found in the right and transverse colon. The incidence of carcinomas in the proximal colonic segments, especially the cecum, appears to be greater in patients of middle or upper socioeconomic groups, a phenomenon possibly related to diet.     

The Control of Precancerous Conditions of the Colon and Rectum

The early diagnosis and treatment of precancerous lesions is an important means of control of intestinal cancer. The precancerous tendency is relatively slight with solitary colo-rectal polyps, ulcerative colitis and bilharzial infestation, but it is exceptionally severe in familial colonic polyposis.For more than 30 years, research into the inheritance and treatment of familial polyposis has been continued at St. Mark''s Hospital, London, England, and more than 90 families have been investigated and family pedigrees prepared. These now include 1050 “members”, of whom 343 have had either polyposis or intestinal cancer, or both, the number with cancer being 243. One hundred and one of these 343 patients have been operated on at St. Mark''s, 61 undergoing colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis.Cancer control is achieved by keeping under supervision all members of a family who have already developed polyposis or who may do so later.     

Effects of Neostigmine and Atropine on Motor Activity of Ileum,Colon, and Rectum of Anaesthetized Subjects

In unanaesthetized patients atropine and neostigmine in doses normally used by anaesthetists to reverse muscle relaxants produced a pronounced increase in bowel activity. This response occurred whether atropine was given before or simultaneously with neostigmine.The response still occurred in 38% of patients anaesthetized without halothane, and possibly this increase in motility might endanger a recently constructed anastomosis. The ileum appeared particularly prone to neostigmine stimulation, and anastomoses involving ileum would seem especially at risk. When halothane was used during anaesthesia the response was completely inhibited during the period studied.