VIRAL AND BACILLARY DYSENTERY

Abstract

Mild, infectious, gastrointestinal disorders, according to many observers, are more numerous and widespread than any other enteric disease, especially in late summer and autumn. Epidemics of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, each of several weeks' duration among medical students, nurses, and hospital personnel were studied in 1943 and 1944.¹ The distribution and clinical behavior of the disease suggested filtrable agents to be the cause,² and a similar disease was transmitted to volunteers by inhaled^1b and ingested³ filtrates of stools obtained from patients. There appear to be at least two similar etiological entities, one febrile and the other not.^3a Many subsequent outbreaks were reported, with a probable viral cause in mind.⁴ Several inadequate descriptive terms are given to the disease as can be noted in the appended references. The term viral dysentery was proposed to imply bowel trouble caused by one or more filtrable agents. Adoption