292 Life and Health 



disease-producing bacteria. For instance, the toxins of 

 diphtheria germs are injected into the blood of a horse. 

 In due time the antitoxin of the disease is removed from 

 the serum of the infected blood, and after proper prepara- 

 tion is injected into the blood of a person exposed to or 

 suffering from diphtheria. The effect is to modify decid- 

 edly the action of the poisonous germs of this dread 

 disease. 



455. How the Bacteria may behave within the Body. 

 After gaining access to the body the bacteria may begin 

 a twofold sort of action. Thus, the bacteria themselves 

 may act, and their products, called toxins, may also play 

 their part. For example, the term "infection" is applied 

 to those conditions in which there is a multiplication of 

 bacteria after entering the body. The word "intoxication " 

 is often used to indicate a condition of poisoning brought 

 about by their products, or toxins. Until these toxins 

 begin to act there may be no symptoms of disease. 

 Thus, one may drink typhoid-polluted water. The bacilli 

 multiply for two weeks (the period of incubation) without 

 any sign, but at the end of about fourteen days the typhoid 

 toxins assert themselves, and symptoms of the disease 

 appear. 



456. What may happen when Bacteria gain Access to a 

 Wound. Nowhere do the bacteria make their power more 

 distinctly felt than in the changes which they may produce 

 when they gain access to a wound. They now find just 

 the conditions upon which they thrive, as heat, moisture, 

 and an abundance of food in the form of broken-down 

 organic matter. Now comes the tug of war between the 

 germs of disease and the cells of the body, especially the 

 white blood corpuscles. Sometimes the cells of the body 

 conquer, and sometimes they are destroyed. More blood 



