48 SPIROCaETES. 



spirochaete of relapsing fever as seen in Bombay was 

 found by Novy to differ from the American variety. 



Spirochaetes were also found by Carter in cases of fever 

 occurring of S. Arabia. The illness consisted in head- 

 ache, backache, prostration and enlargement of the 

 spleen. Infection appeared to be conveyed by ticks 

 (Ornithodorus Sp. ?). The relation of the disease to 

 those described above is uncertain. 



Darling believes that the spirochaete of relapsing 

 fever in Panama is again a special variety, the immun- 

 ity produced by an attack not being protective against 

 the spirochaetes of the 'other forms. The blood is infec- 

 tive in the intervals between the paroxysms. Apes and 

 mice are susceptible to this parasite. 



SYPHILIS. 



The spirochaete discovered by Schaudinn in the 

 lesions of syphilis and first named by him Spirochcsta 

 pallida is now generally accepted as the cause of this 

 disease. Since it is not possible to obtain the organism 

 in pure culture and to use such cultures for the inocula- 

 tion of animals, rigorous proof of causal connection can- 

 not be furnished. It is held, however, that as the 

 spirochaete is constantly present in syphilis (100 per 

 cent, of cases, Hoffmann and Prowazek) and is not found 

 in any other conditions, it has as much claim to be 

 regarded as the infective agent as has the Bacillus leproz 

 in leprosy. In view of its presence in the initial chancre, 

 its subsequent passage to the neighbouring lymphatic 

 glands, its presence in the blood in the secondary stage 

 of the disease, and the occurrence only of degenera- 

 tive forms in tertiary lesions (gummas) which are not 

 supposed to be infective, the features of the disease 

 may be satisfactorily explained as due to this organism. 

 The discovery of immense quantities of spirochastes 



