PART III 

 PLAGUE MICROBES 



CHAPTER LV 



MICROBE OF THE BUBONIC PLAGUE 



As seen in Fig. 91, this microbe belongs in the 

 Rodshaped Type. The rods are exceedingly short 

 and thin. They are single, in pairs, in chains, and 

 multiply by Fission. Seemingly by means of in- 

 finitely fine hairs, these tiny beings move about. 



Infection occurs in three ways. First, by inocu- 

 lation. The germ finds its way into some little 

 scratch or wound on the skin. In this way it at 

 once enters the circulation, and multiplies wonder- 

 fully fast. The disease comes on in twenty-four 

 hours. Hardly a patient lives. 



Second, by breathing the germ. The germ rises 

 on particles of dust, and is drawn into the lungs. 

 Infected in this way, the disease appears in two 

 or three days, and, it is said, not a case lives. 



Third, by swallowing the germ. In food or drink 

 it is taken into the stomach. Thus infected, in 

 about eight days comes the onset of the disease; 

 about half of the cases recover. 



In any form, therefore, the disease is something 



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