PARASITES AND DISEASE (VEGETABLE PARASITES) 173 



The spleen and intestinal follicles are enlarged. 

 Parenchymatous degeneration of the heart, liver, and 

 kidneys may be found. Ecchymosis and petechiae and 

 carbuncles of the skin are frequent. In the pneumonic 

 form inflammation of the lungs resembling pneumococcus 

 infection takes place. 



Morbid Physiology. While there is considerable 

 question regarding the character of the toxin formed by 

 this microbe, the existence of such toxin is evidenced by 

 the profound systemic disturbances (chills, fever, ap- 

 proaching 108 F. at times, delirium, stupor, and coma). 

 The heart's action is feeble and rapid, and collapse 

 may take place. 



TETANUS 



Definition. An acute infectious disease caused by the 

 Bacillus tetani, characterized by more or less persistent 

 tonic spasms of the voluntary muscles, particularly 

 those of the jaw. 



Etiology. The bacillus is found in great numbers in 

 cultivated soil, street dust, horse manure, and stable 

 detritus. Infection would, therefore, be expected to 

 be a frequent occurrence. That infection is a relatively 

 rare occurrence is due to the specific limitations to the 

 growth and development of the germ. 



Being a pure anaerobe, the germ must be protected 

 from oxygen for its growth and development, and in- 

 fection can, therefore, occur only in punctured or deep- 

 seated wounds. There seems also to be a considerable 



