Semi-Centennial Volume. 33 



<langerous. This follows from the fighting in the mud and wound con- 

 tamination from the infected soil. The bombing of the allies' hospitals 

 by the Germans apparently had this largely in mind, as wounds are 

 much more serious, especially from this infection, if not given attention 

 within a few hours. Curative measures have been devised, but their 

 success is not yet determined. 



Infectious jaundice has been abundant, especially in Italy. It is 

 presumed to be caused by a Spirochaete, S. ictero-hsenio^'rhagise. The Jap- 

 anese have discovered that this parasite is common in wild rats. The 

 fact that the ti-enches are badly infested with rats lends color to the 

 above conclusion. Cholera appeared on the eastern front. However, 

 knowing that it is transmitted in food and drink, especially in water, 

 enabled the authorities soon to bring it under control. The results have 

 not been serious, considering this disease. Treatment similar to that 

 of typhoid helped to hold it in check. In former times the story would 

 probably have been very different. 



Amoebic dysentery has caused trouble, but has been pretty well eon- 

 trolled by "emetin," and by using sanitary precautions. Bacillary dys- 

 entery has been reached practically only by proper sanitation. 



Among all of the diseases prevalent in armies, typhoid fever has long 

 been the worst. Its reign, however, has been too autocratic, and it now 

 has gone to join the already large company of the dethroned, the num- 

 ber of which we hope soon to see augmented. In the Franco-Prussian 

 war, sixty per cent of the mortality in the German army was from this 

 alone. In the Boer war the British had 31,000 cases of typhoid and 

 5,877 deaths. In the Spanish-American war, out of 107,973 men there 

 were 20,738 cases, 1,580 deaths. One case to every five men, nearly. In 

 contrast there were, in 1911, 12,800 men in the camp near San Antonio, 

 Tex., for about four months. These had all been treated with "Typho- 

 bacterin." There was but one case, that of a teamster who had not 

 completed his inoculation, and his case was a mild one. One of my 

 pupils was on the ground and was familiar with the situation. There 

 was plenty of chance for infection in the near-by city to which the 

 soldiers had the customary access. In the present war millions have 

 been treated, ninety-seven per cent of the British army. The death 

 rate in the British army among the treated has been i^-.th of that among 

 the untreated. They are now killing three or more birds with one stone 

 by including in the treatment Paratyphoid A, and B, and sometimes 

 the cholera germs. They are thus disposing of all of these mischief- 

 makers at once. What a record this is! 



The general subject of wound infection has been a very important 

 one. Great advances have been made in the three or more years of the 

 war. Methods of antisepsis have enabled surgeons to perform start- 

 lingly complex but successful operations resulting in the restoration to 

 somewhat normal conditions of the badly disfigured or mutilated. In 

 former years this would not have been possible. Two general methods 

 of wound treatment are practised. Wright uses a strong saline solution 

 or even a salt pack. The object is to increase phagocytosis and may be 

 called a physiological method. Carrel has used continuous irrigation 



n— Arnd. Sci. — 2199 



