The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1874-06-27
THE GERM-THEORY OF DISEASE.
interesting Experiments by "A German
Scientist.

Interesting Experiments by "a German
Scientist.
The germ-theory of disease has re
Gently received most interesting and
demonstrative contribution from an EN-
inent German scientist. The commu
nication Of his experimental investiga
tions and the conclusion he has reached
are singularly and strongly confirmed
by Helmholtz,. on the contSsSep kSane
Tyndal, in Ehgland.> 1siTe s.fesesIShe+
-zhich are so decisive weres% i0stedss< 'ley
Professor Binz, of Bonr., with power
full microscopic apparatus, and extend
over & peFiod afeseye yerals ears.
Being a victim to inc drsiI ess1nB mai
ady, hay fever-so prevalent in May
and June in this country-the Bonn in
vestigator 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 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 parasltical 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 tenaciously
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 ciEchonia, and ap-
plying this to the nostrils with a pip
ette or simple nose douche, the desired
effect was immediately secured. The
poisonous action of quinine on infusoria
was perfectly brought ont, the symp.
toms of irritation completely disap-
peared, and the lens revealed the entire
absence of animalculRint the subsequent
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 physiologist, have
applied quinine for the cure
of this parasitical malady.
These highly interesting and beauti-
full inquiries in medical science, besides
the great value of quinine,
and providing n remedy for a disease
which is extremely Distressing, will
give an impetus to ane investigation
which is one of the most promising IN
modern theraputics. A distinguished
leader of medical thought in New York,
in a public address, recently said, if
here was zone direction in which pro-
press is now so marked as to constitute
a dominant feature of the present st-te
Of medicine, and to embrace new med
cal idea, 1t is the origin and propaga-
ton of disease by independent organic
germs" No late physiological investi-
cation has been so prOmlsingly pushed,
aud none has offered so many lines of
s1lfehi, 7.Eaza -l4H>- z-lstA.aieFls ,o'aiderasas
iicted man and beast.
The atmosphere is loaded with matter
which, however invisible to the naked
we. needs only TO be sifted in a strong
beam of artificial light to reveal count
ess particles, each of which may atfctd
. indus for poisonous infusoria. With
yreater perfection in optical apparatus,
his fact will doubtless yet be made
more startlingly apparent But, what
,ver science can unmask, however alarm
ng it may be, the progress Of all rem
dial and curative processes can only
le advanced by such unstIhted analysis.
Eminent physicians and original in
as NJ. Pasteur, of the
French academy of science, Professor
Lister, of Edinburgh, and others, in
heir long-continued and exhaustive ex-
,eriments. reached conclusions harmo-
Nous with those of Helmholtz and
Tyndall. While it will always be true
hat doctors will differ, this difference
loes not impair the enormous practical
Utility of such researches. The santa
v and medical issues they involve are
20 manifold and momentous that it
would be a grand step in the right di-
.ection if a number of eminent micro
copists and physicists, well provided
With means, could combine their skill
or a final solution of the precise prob
an, on which so much depends.