CHAPTER LXVI 



THE MICROBE OF PERITONITIS 



THE peritoneum is a membrane that surrounds 

 and encloses the intestines and other organs 

 within the abdomen. The inflammation of this 

 organ is the peritonitis. It is caused by a microbe. 



This germ is a soil microbe. Many are the door- 

 ways through which it may enter the system and 

 find its way to the peritoneum. Here it grows, 

 multiplies, and very soon, by its great numbers, 

 generates the poison peculiar to this disease. 



This poison causes the inflammation, and the 

 sharp, even agonizing pains. The inflammation 

 and pain usually begin at a single point. Unless 

 arrested, the disease then spreads more or less over 

 the abdomen. This is the dangerous stage. A 

 kind of mucous may be generated in such quan- 

 tities as to glue the intestines more or less together, 

 causing obstinate constipation. 



An operation is then the only hope. The intes- 

 tines must be separated, cleansed, and restored to 

 normal condition. 



At the very onset of this disease, call the most 

 skillful surgeon at hand. 



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