118 THE ACUTE SELF-LIMITED INFECTIONS 



at several-hour intervals until symptoms start to 

 abate. The sooner after the symptoms appear that 

 antitoxin is given the more favorable is the outlook. 

 Antitoxin is now given freely by health authorities, 

 to all who receive firearm wounds about July 4. 



BACILLUS TYPHOSUS. 



Typhoid fever or enteric fever is an acute infectious 

 disease caused by the Bacillus typhosus or typhoid 

 bacillus circulating in the blood and settling in the 

 various organs, particularly the lymphatic structures 

 of the small intestines. 



The bacteria enter the body via the mouth and are 

 able to pass the stomach into the small intestines. 

 Here they are taken up by the lymphatic organs, 

 which immediately begin to swell. This reaction 

 brings more blood to the part and the circulation soon 

 contains the germs. The incubation period is that 

 time elapsing between the introduction of the typhoid 

 bacillus into the alimentary canal and the first positive 

 signs that it has been taken up and disseminated by 

 the blood stream. Then there are gradually increasing 

 fever, malaise, a relatively slow pulse, distention of 

 the abdomen, diarrhea or constipation, rose spots, and 

 other signs of the true infection. The incubation is 

 about two weeks. The bacteria, while not true pus- 

 formers, do cause a breaking down of tissue. This is 

 characteristically seen in the lymphatics of the small 

 intestine called Fever's plaques. These bodies swell 

 toward the free lumen of the canal, and the centre 

 finally softens from the effect of the bacilli. When 



