The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-07-02
TRE GERM-THEORY OF DISEASE.
Interesting Jcxpersments by a German
Scientist

Scientist. ----'--
The germ-theory of disease hls re-
Gently received q most interesting and
demonstrative contribution from an en-
inent German scientist The commu-
nication of his experimental investjRa-
tions and the conclusion he has reached
are singularly and strongly confirmed
by HelmhoItz, on the continent. and
Tyndal, In England. The researches
which are so decisive were made by
Professor Binz, of Bonn, with power
full microscopic apparatus, and extend
over period of several years.
Being a victim 20 the distressing mai
ady, hay fever-so prevalent in Nay
and June In this eountFy-the Bonn in
vestlgatOr suspected from the seasonal
prevalence of the disease, that it was
traceable to the vegetable organisms.
Having armed himself with the power
full immersion lens of a Hartnack mi
croscope, he subjected the nasal secre-
tions to analysis. In examining the
secretions he uniformly found organism
wholly absent, except when suffering
with the disease in the spring. When
laid on the warm stage of the micro
scope these organic or parasitical bodies
were distinctly seen in motion, vibrat-
ing backwards and forwards in life, and,
after several days, had evidently in
creased in size. They adhere tenaeiously
to the lower cavities of the nose, and
can be discharged only by violent
sneezing. But the most beautiful part
of the research was in the discovery of
theremedy for their presence in the hu-
man system. On preparing a neutral
solution of sulphate of quinine, free
from adulteration by cinehOnia, and ap-
plying this to She nostrils with a pip
cite or simple nose douche, the desired
effect was immediately secured. The
poisonous action of quinine on infusoria
was perfectly brought out, the symp-
toms of irritation completely disap
peared, and the lens revealed the entire
absence of animalculssin the subsequent
secretiOns. The results agree with
those arrived at in 1870 by DIR. Frick-
hofer, of Schwalbach, and Professor
Busch, of Bonn, both of whom, with
Helmholtz, the great Psychologist, have
successfully applied quinine for thecnre
of this parasitical malady.
These highly interesting and beauti-
full inquiries in medical science, besides
establishing the great value of quinine,
and providing a remedy for a disease
which is extremely distressing, viii
give an impetus to an investigation
which is one of the most promising in
modern Therapeutics. A distinguished
leader of medical thought in New York,
in a public address, recently said, if
there was Zone direction In Nhich pro-
gress Is now so marked as to constitute
a dominant feature of the present state
of medicine, and to embrace new med
ical idea, it is the origin and propaga-
tion of disease by independent organic
Ia II, -
cation has been so promisingly pushed,
and none has offered 50 many lines of
solution for the mysterious epidemics
which. from time immemorial, have af-
flicted man and beast.
The atmosphere is loaded with matter
which, however invisible to the naked
eve, needs only to be sifted in a strong
beam of artificial light to reveal count
less particles, each of which may afford
a nidus for poisonous infusoria. With
greater perfection in optical apparatus,
this fact will doubtless yet be made
more startlingly apparent. But, what
ever science can unmask, however alarm
ing it may be, the progress of all rem
edial and curative processes can only
be advanced by such unstinted analysis.
Eminent physicians and original in
vestigators, as M. Pasteur, of the
French academy of science, Professor
Lister, of Edinburgh, and others, in
their long-continued and exhaustive ex-
periments, reached conclusions harmo
nious with those of Helmholtz and
Tyndall. While it will always be true
that doctors Will differ, this difference
does not impair the enormous practical
utility of such researches. The santa
ry and medical issues they involve are
so manifold and momentous that it
would be grand step in the right di-
rection if a number of eminent micro
scopists and physicists, we'll provided
with means, could combine their skill
for a final solution of the precise prob
lem on which so much depends.