CHAPTER XLVII 



THE MICROBE OF RELAPSING FEVER 



IN about seven days after infection, comes the 

 onset of this disease. The temperature suddenly 

 rises, with all the attendant symptoms of the fever. 

 In this state the patient continues seven days. 

 Then the fever leaves, and the temperature sud- 

 denly drops to normal. In this quiet condition the 

 patient remains seven days. Then there is a re- 

 lapse. The temperature again suddenly rises, the 

 pulse is quickened, with all the other symptoms of 

 the fever. This continues, as before, another seven 

 days. Then the fever leaves, the temperature 

 drops again to normal the quiet stage is on as 

 before. In the same way there may be two or 

 three more relapses. 



The microbe that causes this fever is represented 

 in Fig. 86. It belongs in the Spiral type. Its 

 winding threads are about the TSVVV part of an 

 inch in thickness many times that in length. It 

 is exceedingly active in motion all the time, as 

 if it were an animal. 



The incubation period of this germ is seven days, 

 corresponding to the relapsing time of the fever. 

 Seven days after, infection, the fever begins. Dur- 

 ing the next seven days, while the fever lasts, every 



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