466 



TYPHOID FEVER 



determined by adding blood of a patient who has typhoid, or 

 has recently had it, to some typhoid bacilli on a glass slide. 



P?^ 



cover- ^lip. 



^,.>i..M::!;'/i^i;i:/, 



Tignging llrop 



The diagram on the left, shows free swimming typhoid bacilli. The one on the right, shows 

 typhoid bacilli clumped in masses by the presence of agglutinins from the blood of a typhoid pa- 

 tient. The agglutination test is usually made in a hanging drop on a glass slide as shown above. 



When this drop is viewed under the microscope, the germs are 

 seen clumped together in masses. 



One attack of typhoid produces immunity. This is probably due 

 to the fact that so much protective material is developed to combat 

 the powerful typhoid toxin that much is left over and stays in the 

 blood for life. Since the toxin is not an exotoxin as in diph- 

 theria, antitoxin would be valueless and probably is not produced. 

 The body combats a disease germ which produces an endotoxin 

 by fighting the actual germs with their inclosed toxins. 



Diagnosis. As early a diagnosis as possible must be made if 

 the patient is to get the best possible treatment. An early quar- 

 antine must be established to prevent the spread of the disease 

 to other people. 



