TYPHOID FEVER. 401 



disease under consideration, or in known facts 

 relating to its epidemic extension, to indicate that 

 the typhoid germ multiplies in the blood of those 

 attacked with the disease ; and the negative results 

 which have, for the most part, been reported by 

 those who have sought it in this fluid, correspond 

 with what might a priori have been expected. 



Meyer, however, has reported the finding of 

 bacilli in great numbers in the blood of a case of 

 typhoid which resulted fatally from congestion 

 of the lungs and kidneys, at the end of two days. 

 But it may be questioned whether the pathological 

 appearances would be sufficiently marked at so 

 early a date to establish the diagnosis ; and, in 

 any event, the finding of micro-organisms in blood 

 obtained post mortem has little import, unless the 

 same organisms were found in this fluid before 

 death. Almquist reports that he has occasionally 

 found groups of microbes in the blood in small 

 numbers. These were short rods, and were most 

 abundant during the second or third week of sick- 

 ness. In this, as in other diseases, we must bear 

 in mind the possibility that a septic complication 

 may be attended by invasion of the blood by micro- 

 organisms not bearing any direct relation to the 

 typhoid process; and also that non-pathogenic 

 bacteria may possibly invade the circulating fluid 

 when the vital powers are at a low ebb. 



Maragliano found in blood drawn from the spleen 

 by means of a hypodermic syringe, motile and 

 motionless micrococci, and also a small number of 



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