CHAPTEK LXVIII 



THE MICROBE OF DYSENTERY 

 i 



THIS microbe is shown in Fig. 102. It belongs 

 in the animal kingdom, and is an amoeba. As a 

 disease germ, it is exceptionally large, about one 

 thousand five hundred times as large as the aver- 

 age disease producing germ. It is yet invisible to 

 the naked eye. 



As seen in the figure, this microbe consists of a 

 sac filled with protoplasm. At the center is a 

 nucleus. Within the nucleus, a nucleolus. 



The germ multiplies by Fission, first prolongs, 

 then divides into two parts. Each part prolongs, 

 and divides as before. And so on. 



It is a tropical animal hence the disease is 

 endemic in the South, appearing in the North dur- 

 ing the heated season of Summer. 



Infection takes place by way of the rectum. 

 Once there, the germ finds its way into the large 

 intestine. Here is always located the disease. 

 Once here, the germ grows, multiplies, generates 

 the dysenteric poison. 



The poison brings the onset of the disease, in- 

 flammation of the membrane, sometimes ulcera- 

 tions, frequent bloody stools, griping pains. 



Little else can be done save the best nursing. 



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