i6o INFECTIOUS AND PARASITIC DISEASES. 



The urine is a frequent avenue of exit for 

 Urine. bacteria. They are found in it in practically 



all diseases in which bacteria are circulating 

 in the blood (bacteriaemia, septicaemia), and also in 

 infections of the genito-urinary organs generally. In 

 all the eruptive fevers of known or unknown origin, the 

 urine should be regarded as infectious. With reference 

 to this secretion the profession learned a valuable 

 lesson in the case of typhoid fever; for a long time the 

 urine in this disease was entirely disregarded as a source 

 of infection, yet the last few years have taught us that 

 as an avenue of exit for the typhoid bacilli, it is infinitely 

 more dangerous than the stools. In the stools, the 

 putrefactive bacteria which are always present, are far 

 more vigorous than the typhoid bacilli, so that if typhoid 

 stools are allowed to stand a day or two, the typhoid 

 bacilli disappear. After recovery the bacilli are not 

 found in the stools unless the biliary passages are 

 infected. The urine, on the other hand, during the 

 whole course of the fever, constantlycontains the specific 

 bacilli, often in such numbers as to make it cloudy 

 (bacilluria) ; and what is far more important, the bacilli 

 may be present for months and years after recovery 

 unless means are taken to eradicate them. In view of 

 the latter fact it is a routine practice in many hospitals to 

 give during convalescence from fifteen to twenty grains 

 of urotropin daily, or to wash out the bladder once a 

 day, for several days after the temperature has reached 



