﻿IX, B, 3 Musgrave and Sison: Bacillary Dysentery 249 



associated diseases, and special anatomic findings in the acute 

 bacillary type of the disease are recorded as follows : 



Malaria fever 2 



Chronic gastric catarrh 2 



Bronchopneumonia 3 



Acute pleurisy 1 



Congestion and oedema of lungs 4 



Cloudy liver 8 



Cloudy kidneys 5 



Fatty liver 1 



Fatty kidneys 1 



Enlarged spleen 5 



More recent writers have included a number of other complica- 

 tions of these infections to such an extent that the dysentery 

 toxin must be classed with that of other severe infections in its. 

 action on organs and parts of the body distant from the seat 

 of lesion. 



TREATMENT 



In spite of our knowledge of the etiology of this disease, we 

 have not as yet a treatment that might be termed specific. This 

 is explained by our knowledge that different types of micro- 

 organisms are causative factors of the disease, and this fact 

 together with the different degrees of virulence of the infecting 

 microorganisms in part explains the disparity of opinion regard- 

 ing the treatment of bacillary dysentery. The treatment recom- 

 mended as effective by some clinicians has been a failure in the 

 hands of others and vice versa. Many physicians who have had 

 experience in the treatment of bacillary dysentery are in favor 

 of some special drug or of a manner of treatment that has given 

 them the best percentage of cures. 



There is one phase of the treatment, however, where all 

 the writers are in accord; that is, the prophylactic treatment. 

 With our knowledge of the etiology of the disease, it is not 

 difficult to observe the measures that will prevent the spread 

 of the disease. Each individual with dysentery must be con- 

 sidered as a focus of infection, and his isolation is necessary. 

 The stools must be properly disposed of, and general hygienic 

 rules must be observed. Overcrowding, uncleanliness, over exer- 

 tion, fatigue, and the use of injudicious diet are some of the 

 predisposing factors that ought to be avoided, especially during 

 dysentery epidemics. All materials that have come in contact 

 with dysenteric patients and the hands of those who attend them 

 should be disinfected. Flies are the main disseminators of the 

 disease, and must be excluded from contact with the patient 

 as well as with food supply. 



