228 THE INVISIBLE WORLD 



Meanwhile, the appendix is the occasion of not 

 a little trouble. It is peculiarly liable to disease. 

 This, for two reasons. First, because of its feeble 

 condition. Growing smaller, it grows weaker. It 

 cannot so well resist. 



Second, because of its position. Connecting 

 with, and opening into, the large intestine, infec- 

 tion is apt to come from this source. A certain 

 microbe, Fig. 99, is the chief, if not the only, cause 

 of infection. It is the microbe of appendicitis. It 

 is Rod-shaped, has fine flagella on its body, which 

 assist in making its lively motions. It has been 

 isolated, artificially cultivated, and named Bacillus 

 Coli Communis. 



This germ naturally inhabits the small intestine. 

 Here it always lives, and is generally harmless. 

 From this organ it passes into the large intestine, 

 and is here always present. From this intestine 

 the germ occasionally finds its way into the ap- 

 pendix. 



Then begins the mischief. Once in this organ, 

 the germ grows and multiplies into great numbers. 

 From their life processes comes the poison. The 

 poison inflames the appendix. The inflammation is 

 the appendicitis. 



By this microbe, and by this microbe only, comes 

 every case of this disease. 



It is sometimes thought that a speck of solid 

 substance from the intestine may enter the appen- 

 dix and cause the disease. But it is not the speck 

 itself if it enters at all which causes the dis- 



