CHAPTEE XXXVII 



THE MICROBE OF BRONCHITIS 



As represented in Fig. 72, the trachea, or wind- 

 pipe, a, divides into the two bronchi, b, b. The 

 right bronchus subdivides into tubes, the tubes into 

 still smaller divisions, and the divisions continue 

 until they coalesce with, or form, the right lung. 

 So the left bronchus divides and subdivides in the 

 same way until it forms, and unites with, the left 

 lung. 



Now it sometimes happens that the lining mem- 

 branes of the bronchi and the bronchial tubes be- 

 come inflamed. This inflammation is called bron- 

 chitis. 



The disease is not uncommon, and not unfre- 

 quently it proves fatal. In the United States 

 about 20,000 die with the bronchitis every year. At 

 this rate throughout the world, about 400,000 must 

 die with it every year. 



Therefore it is important that one should 

 thoroughly understand and guard against this dis- 

 ease. It is strictly microbian ; that is, it is caused 

 by a certain kind of microbe. It is, in fact, to the 

 bronchi and bronchial tubes what the cold or the 

 influenza is to the nasal and throat cavities. It is 



contracted and develops in a similar way. By con- 

 Hi 



