Reithrodon

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

a genus of Murinæ, with three species: Reithrodon cuniculoides, the rabbit-like Reithrodon, from Patagonia; R. typicus, from La Plata; and R. chinchilloides, from the Straits of Magellan. The profile is arched, the eyes large, ears hairy, first and fifth toes of hind feet very short, upper incisors grooved. The first species was discovered by Darwin. Fur yellowish gray, mixed with black, throat and belly pale yellow, rump and feet white; length of head and body about seven inches, tail half as much more. RÉJANE, GABRIELLE, the stage name of Charlotte Réju, an actress on the French stage. Born in Paris in 1857, she entered at the Vaudeville in 1875 and became popular because of her impersonations. În 1893 Victorien Sardou wrote his "Madame Sans Gene," with Réjane in mind for the title rôle. She gained a tremendous success, and appeared in it in London and in the United States. In 1905 she founded the Théâtre Réjane. She died in 1920. RELAPSING FEVER (also known as FAMINE FEVER and SEVEN-DAY FEVER), one of the three great species of continued fever, the two others being typhus and typhoid. It was first definitely discriminated from these diseases by Dr. Henderson of Edinburgh and other Scotch physicians about 1842. During the 19th century it was met with in Ireland, Scotland, England, in central and eastern en Europe, the countries surrounding the Levant Levant, north Africa, India, China, and, though never extensively, in North America. Relapsing fever usually begins suddenly with rigors, a sense of chilliness, and frontal headache. There is severe aching pain in the joints and muscles, and great sleeplessness; but delirium, if present at all, usually comes on only toward the end of the first week. After the above-described symptoris have lasted for a period varying from five to eight days, generally on the seventh day a sudden change takes place. This crisis commences with a copious perspiration, which is followed by a rapid falling of the pulse and temperature to or below the normal, and the patient appears nearly well. But from the fifth to the eighth day of this seeming convalescence a sudden relapse occurs, and all the primary symptoms return; these often run a rather shorter course than before, and again terminate in sweating and in a second convalescence, which is in most cases permanent. The relapse sometimes, however, occurs three or even four times. Death is a rare termination of relapsing fever; except enlargement of the spleen. One form of the disease, however, is much more severe,`! and very often fatal. It was originally described as a distinct disease under the RELATIVITY OF KNOWLEDGE 485 name of bilious typhoid, and is characterized by more marked implication of the digestive organs, by the constant presence of jaundice, and by absence or incomplete development of the crisis and intermission. It has now been shown to be really identical with relapsing fever proper. Relapsing fever is generally met with among those living under unfavorable hygienic conditions; it is specially apt to attack a population suffering from insufficient nourishment (hence the name famine fever), and is seldom met with among the upper classes, or among Europeans residing in the tropics, unless they are brought closely in contact with the sick. At the same time it is very infectious, spreading either directly from the patient to doctors, nurses, etc., or from clothes and bedding to washerwomen, who have suffered severely in some epidemics.