TRENCH FEVER

During the winter of 1914-15 a large number of cases of } stiffne in the muscles, malaise, fever,|the and sometimes bronchitis, gan affect soldiers in the trenches, and the| condition became recognized as a new] form of disease. Throughout the war] this was known as trench fever (pyrexia | of unknown origin). Definite types| were distinguished, according to dura-}to tion. The common forms were three,| eight, and twelve-day fever. Relapses | were exceedingly common, and during|and the febrile attacks the number of white| cells in the blood was increased. Extra-| ordinary tenderne usually affecting | the shins was a feature, and the mere| pre ure of the bedclothes might prevent| sleep. ‘The disease appears to be transmitted by the body louse, and the] infection is a ociated with the blood corpuscles and not with the blood | fluid. The actual infective agent has|and not been isolated. The incubation|bombardment period is probably fourteen to twenty-| four days. Treatment, except in pallia- | tion of symptoms, is of no avail. The} limbs are protected from pre ure by| cage, and sedatives may be nece ary control pain.