Spirochaeta \Spi`ro*ch[ae]"ta\, Spirochaete \Spi`ro*ch[ae]"te\,
n. [L. spira a coil + Gr. ??? hair.]
(Biol.)
A genus of Spirobacteria similar to Spirillum, but
distinguished by its motility. One species, the
Spiroch[ae]te Obermeyeri, is supposed to be the cause of
relapsing fever.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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Relapsing \Re*laps"ing\, a.
Marked by a relapse; falling back; tending to return to a
former worse state.
Relapsing fever (Med.), an acute, epidemic, contagious
fever, which prevails also endemically in Ireland, Russia,
and some other regions. It is marked by one or two
remissions of the fever, by articular and muscular pains,
and by the presence, during the paroxism of spiral
bacterium (Spiroch[ae]te) in the blood. It is not
usually fatal. Called also famine fever, and recurring
fever.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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