quantities throughout the system and are the direct cause of 

 the "fever." 



Fortunately the system has a means of defence a^jainst 

 these toxins. In a short time after the beginning of the 

 fever there is developed in the blood a substance called 

 ' ' anti-toxin ' ' v/hich was not previously present and which 

 has the property, not only of neutralizing the toxin, but of 

 actually clumping together and destroying the bacilli them- 

 selves. When the antito-xin becomes fully effective the 

 fever disappears and convalescence begins. It is important 

 to remember, hov/ever, that at this time the intestinal ulcers 

 are just beginning to heal and a serious relapse may still 

 occur if solid food orbolily exertion are prematurely indulged 

 in. The anti-toxin may remain in the blood for years 

 and confer a certain amount of immunity from another attack. 



From the above account of the nature of the disease it is 

 plain that the body of a typhoid patient is filled with hordes 

 of typhoid bacilli. These dangerous germs escape from the 

 body in large numbers in its excretions, especially in the 

 saliva, the faeces and urine. For months after convalesence 

 the germs live on and are excreted with the faeces and for 

 more than a year they escape with the urine. Since new 

 cases of typhoid fever arise only v/hen some of these bacilli 

 are introduced into the mouth of another person, it will 

 be readily seen that a typhoid patient is a walking menace 

 to the community for a year after his recovery. 



Not only then must extreme care be taken by physician 

 and nurse to thoroughly disinfect the excreta, but also 

 hands, clothing, utensils, and, in fact, everything that comes 

 in contact with the typhoid fever patient. Excreta also from 

 the body of the convalescent should be regarded as a source 

 of danger and should be disposed of with great care. 



Typhoid bacilli, having left the body of a patient, live for 

 many months in damp soil, sewage, or water and multiply 

 rapidly in milk. They withstand freezing and may, there- 



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