COMMON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. 
valve. The bacillus first attacks certain structures 
termed the Peyerian glands (also termed “Pey- 
er’s patches,” after the anatomist who first dis¬ 
covered or described them). These glands are 
small white looking patches, or groups of lymph 
follicles, (tiny sacs containing great numbers of 
small, round cells and some fluid) in the mucous 
and submucous layers of this part of the small 
intestine. As a result of the attack, the 
Peyerian glands inflame, swell, thicken and 
frequently ulcerate. When ulceration occurs 
sloughing or casting off of dead particles 
of tissue follows and an open sore is left behind. 
Sometimes a blood vessel is punctured by an 
ulcer, when a hemorrhage more or less severe in 
its effects takes place. An ulcer may, and fre¬ 
quently does, extend through the entire wall of 
the intestine, when perforation and the escape 
of the intestinal contents into the abdominal cav¬ 
ity causes peritonitis and death, unless the per¬ 
foration is such as can be repaired and the pa¬ 
tient is in a condition to warrant such a measure. 
While the small intestine is said to be the chief 
seat of the bacterial invasion, the various systems 
of the human structure are also affected. There 
is elevation of temperature, owing to absorption 
of poison produced by the bacillus typhosus, and 
the patient frequently suffers from thirst. 
A disordered condition of the nervous system 
exists, manifested by headache, insomnia, and in 
severe cases by delirium and unconsciousness. 
The digestive system is affected and in conse¬ 
quence we observe, loss of appetite, a furred 
tongue and sometimes nausea and vomiting. At 
times there is a severe diarrhoea present, at other 
43 
The Peyerian 
Glands. 
Changes 
Produced. 
Hemorrhage. 
Perforation 
and 
Peritonitis. 
Absorption 
of Poison. 
The Nervous 
System. 
The Digestive 
System. 
