The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-07-03
The Germ-Theory or Disease.

The germ-theory of disease has recently
received most interesting and demonstra-
tive contribution from an eminent German
scientist. The communication of his ex-
detrimental investigations and the conclu-
sions he has reached are sngularly and
strongly confirmed by III lmholtz. on the
continent. and Tyndall in England. The
researches which are 30 decisive were
made by Professor BinZ. of Bonn. with
powerful microscopic apparatus, and ex-
tend over period of several years.
Being avctim 10 the distressing malady.
hay fever-so prevalent in May and June
IN this Countrywide Bonn Investigator
suspected from the seasonable prevalence
of the disease, that IL was traceable 10 the
vegetable organisms. Having armed him
self with the powerful immersion lens of
Hartnack microscope. lie subjected the
nasal secretions to analysis. In examining
the secretions he uniformly found organ
ism wholly absent. except when suffering
from the disease in the spring. When
laid on the warm side of the microscope
these organic or parasitical bodies were
distinctly seen in motion. vibrating back
wards and forwards in life. and, after sew
eral days. had evidently increased in size
They adhere tenacionsly TO the lower cavi-
ties of the nose. and can be discharged only
by violent sneeZing. But the most beauti-
ful part of the research was i'm the dis
covery of the remedy for their presence IN
the human system. On preparing neu-
tral solution Of sulphate If quinine. free
from adulteration by cinchonia. and apply
ing this to the nostrils with a pipette or
simple nose douche, the desired effect was
Immediately secured. The poisonous act
ion of quiDine on infusoria was perfectly
brought out, the symptoms of irritation
completely disappeared, and the lens re-
vealed the entire absence of animalcul2 In
the subsequent secretions. The results
agree with those arrived at i'm 1870 by DIR.
Freebooter. of Schwalbach. and Professor
Busch, of Bonn. both of whom. with
Helmholtz, the great Psychologist. have
successfully applied quinine for the cure
of this parastical malady.
These highly interesting and beautiful
inquiries in medical science. besides estab-
fishing the great value of quinine. and pro-
viding remedy for disease which il ex-
tremely distressing. will give an impe-
tus to an investigation which Is the most
promising in modern therapeutics. A
distinguished leader OF medical thought i'm
New York. in "A public address. recently
said. if there was zone direction In which
progress l. now so marked a. 10 consti-
tute a dominant feature Of the present
state of medicine. and to embrace new
idea, il is the origin and propagation of
disease by independent organic eerms.-
No late physiological investigation mas
been so promisingly pushed. and none has
Offered so many lines of solution for the
mysterious epidemics which, from time
immemorial, have afflicted man and beast.
The atmosphere is loaded with matter
which, however invisible IL the naked eve,
needs only TO be sifted in "A strong beam
of artificial light To reveal countless parti-
cles. each of which may afford indus for
poisonous iniusoria. With greater per-
fectien i'm optical apparatus, this fact will
doubtless Yet be made more startling
ly apparent. But whatsoever science
can unmask, however alarming ii may be,
the progress Of all remedial and curative
processes can only be advanced by such
unstinted analysis.
Eminent physicians and original inves-
tigators. as NJ. Pasteur, Of the French
Academy Of Sciences. Professor Lister. Of
Edinburgh, and Others. in their long con-
tinued and exhaustive experiments. reached
conclusions harmonious with those of
Helmholtz and Tyndall. While il will al
ways be true that doctors will differ, this
difference will not impair the enormous
practical utility of such researches. The
sanitary and medical issues they involve
are so manifold and momentous that il
would be grand step in the right direc-
ton If a number of eminent microscopes
and physicists. well provided with means,
could combine their skill for final solu-
ton Of the problem on which so much de-
pends.-Nsio York Herald.
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