CHAPTER XXXVI 



MICROBE OF THE GRIPPE 



THIS microbe ranks among the smallest of 

 pathogenic germs about li micro-millimeters in 

 length by A of a micromillimeter in thickness. 

 This means that over five billions of them may 

 be packed within the space of a cubic millimeter, 

 or small drop of water. They belong to the Rod- 

 shaped type. Fig. 71. 



In one of many ways possible, one or more of 

 these tiny beings get into the nasal or throat pas- 

 sages. Here they find a congenial environment. 

 They at once begin to thrive and grow and mul- 

 tiply. Each one prolongs itself. In twenty min- 

 utes each one divides and becomes two. In 

 twenty minutes more each of these two becomes 

 two, producing four. At this rate, in twenty-four 

 hours each one becomes 16,500,000; in forty-eight 

 hours, 281,500,000,000. 



In their life processes these germs generate the 

 grippe poison. It is this poison, and this alone, 

 that does all the mischief. It is of three kinds, 

 arising no doubt from three varieties of the same 

 microbe. 



Hence three varieties of the Grippe. The first 

 is mild. It resembles the common cold; but it 

 works more upon the nerves, and is prostrating 



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