The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-08
THE GERM THEORY.
NJ. Pasteur's Researches Into the
Causes OF COntagiOn.


If the latest advices from the labo-
ratory of the most celebrated micro
psychologist in France, NJ. PaSteur,
are not exaggerated by the Gazette
DIES HopitauX, the 50O00f. granted to
him by the government, in order to fin
ish his researches as to the attenuation
of the vehicle of contagiOn in such
diseases as Splenic fever in animals
and the feasibility of inoculating as
means of prevention, have not been
expended in vain. The microbe (or
bacterium) of splenic fever and the
successful cultivation of the organ
ism by NJ. Pasteur have already been
described, and the organisms occur
ring in typhoid fever are also too IA
miliar to require description. The
principle that the distinguished mi
crOScopiSt has discovered that
the microbes of contagious diseases,
so far as he has gone in
their study, are all subject to the
same law, and may be reduced in vir-
ulence by subjecting them through
culture to the action of free oxygen
is, however, one of such Importance
to science, and one of such practical
interest to sanitarians, that its state
ment has commanded the universal
attention of the European press; jour
nalists of science in Germany having,
for once at least, laid down their en-
4 gineS of assault and conceded the val
ue of the disclosure.
Pasteur's very latest expectations
in connection with which the princi-
pie is announced, have been conduct
ed with the microbe of hydrophobia.
From the mouth of a patient dead of
that disease in one of the hospitals of
Paris he procured quantity of the
thick, ropy, foaming saliva, and with
it inoculated rabbit, which
died on the third day after the
operation. In the blood OF
the dead rabbit a new microbe
was discovered. A few weeks later
another person died of hydrophobia
in the hospital of La Pitie, and more
rabbits were inOculated with the sail
va of the patient taken both before
and after death. All the rabbits died
but not all died of hydrophobia-pur.
ulent fever and septic9mia being re
sponsible for the result in several
cases. Thus far the results were very
promising. But here the lens played
one of those discouraging jokes that
: so often occur in laboratories of Opt
Cal analysis. On examining the saliva
of persons dead of other diseases, NJ
Pasteur discovered that his new mi.
crObe was very common phenOme
non of diseased saliva, and not Specia
to the hydrOphObic secretiOns. Tht
fact did not, however, prevent hin
from cultivating some 80 generation!
of the organism, the last generation
of which killed rabbits as quick
ly as the first. The cultivation
having thus far taken place in CLOSED
tubes, the microbe was next sub
jected to free air, when it parted will
its vitality so rapidly that it wa
found impossible to seize it at thu
proper point of reduction. Either il
died or it still retained all its poison
Gus potency. By using veal brotf
mixed with a rabbits blood as men
struum he prolonged the life of thu
organifm from twelve to fifty days
and finally obtained product which
resulted in mild attack resembling
hydrophobia in rabbits and guine;
pigs, and after innoculation will
which genuine hydrophobia could no
be indicted by introducing the origi
nal matter into the system. NJ. Pas
teur has, consequently, been success
full in finding prophylactic agains
hydrophObia on the new principle O.
the oxidation of microscopic organ
isms, an important addition to thu
literature of veterinary medicine ant
tn science