Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-07-05
THE DISCOVERY OF A GERM.
New Orleans Times.

Last winter Df. MallOcl Ia Udi1d
Lobo, a scientific physician from Rio
de Jaueiro, visited this city and other
parts of the United States, and prin-
cipal points in the West Indies and
Mexico in the course of his studies
and Investigations upon the cause
and nature of yellow fever.
The doctor is one of those who be-
lieve in a germ cause for disease. He
thinks that diseases are propagated
by the introduction into the human
body Of living organisms which at
tack those parts and organs that
come within their reach and produce
the disorders and distress which we
call disease. These germs or Orga-
nisms are introduced into the body
through the lungs and stomach, and
hence they are to be sought for with
the aid of the microscope in the fluids
and excretions Of the body and in the
air and water which are taken into
the system ofthe patient.
Dr.. LObO is microscopic, and
learned in the science of those minute
existences which are only to be dis
covered and known through magni-
flying glasses. He first went to work
with powerful lenses upon the blood
and excrementitious fluids of yellow
fever patients TO see if he could find
traces of the animal or vegetable Or
ganlsm that was the cause OF this
disease. He investigated these mat
tiers from patients who had been at
tackled at number of widely distant
places. His researches, as he claims,
were rewarded by finding in the ex-
cretions of such sick persons an ami
NAL, exceedingly small Of course, be-
longing to the order of infusoria and
the family of baccillaria. He then
sought in the water of the rivers,
lakes, ponds, swamps and in the sea
near the several places where there
had been epidemics of yellow fever
for traces of this animal. This search
was also successful, these deadly
baccillae having been found in the
water supply of Vera Cruz and Ha-
vana, but nowhere else. These two
places, the doctor believes, are the
hotbeds and native sources Of yellow
fever, whence it is transported to all
other places where its ravages are
known.
We will endeavor to give in the
doctors own words, but unfortunate
" without the drawings and dia-
grams with which his views are H.
lustrated, sketch of his discoveries
as detailed in pamphlet on the sub
iect, Just issued by him from a New
York press:
The yellow fever is a disease of
continuous type produced by the
0punsia Mexicana, an animal which
belongs to the family of Baccillarum.
The Jamapa river supplies the City
of Vera Cruz with fresh water, and in
the lake a stream has it's source which
at place where it passes under the
bridge of a road bOrdered with CO.
coanut trees takes the name OF Ia
iariver. 1t afterward empties into
the sea. The Laguna de los COcos
is sixty feet wide in the suburb OF
Vera Cruz, and from thence it en-
tends to Medellin river. This lake
or swamp is twelve miles in length
and is covered with aquatic plants
like the lakes of the Amazonas river
The Jamapa river rises in the noun
tain and empties into the Gulf o.
Mexico some miles south of Vera
Cruz. A steam machine takes the
water and sends it through iron tubes
to the city, where it is largely dis
tributed, being fresh for the use o
the houses and fountains.
This water is clear, and only few
roots can be seen in it with the ma