BACILLUS TYPHOSUS 109 



It is best to give 10,000 units by the vein and 

 repeat 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 Peyer's plaques. These bodies swell 

 toward the free lumen of the canal, 'and the centre 



