Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-02-21
WONDERFUL REVELATIONS OF THE
MICROSCOPE.
Discovery of the Most Deadly Enemy of Mankind.
The Bacillus and Its Ravaqes.

Inc bacillus ana IT'S naVaQesp
The scientific world has been greatly startled
and agitated of late by the discovery with the
microscope of the most dreadful enemy OF
mankind in the form of myriads of little death
dealing parasites. The air we breathe and live
| IN is charged with these deadly little grOwths
in proportion as it IS infected from various
| noxious sources. Ha wing by recent expert
ments and research been shown to be the most
| fruitful cause of disease known, and the wei
| fare and health of every individual depending
so largely on the freedom from their destruc-
tive ravages, it ls but natural that the reports
of recent Investigators in this field of scientific
| inquiry should be widely read, aud that every
phase of these astounding discoveries should
| be subject to universal discussion. At first re-
ceived with some suspicion they have at length
! been thoroughly proven, and are now receiv-
| ing the unqualified endorsements of the lead
ing scientific men throughout the world. But
little else is talked of IN schools and clubs of
| science, and the medical and scientific journals
are crowded with the testimony that is being
added corroborative of the value of the mar
velous discovery which is pronounced the
greatest advance in medical science of modern
times.
Toll. PAsTEUR. the eminent French scientist,
who by his learned Investigations has saved to
France SO many millions of dollars, is probably
due the honor of first pointing out the terrible
power of these germs. In recognition of his
great service the government has recently
voted him from the public treasury $40, 900. 90,
with which to continue his experiments. He
has described several varieties of these para
sites, some comparatively harmless, others ex-
tremely dangerous. One form he proved by
series Of vaccinations and other conclusive ex-
periments was the cause of death of many
thousands of animals and herds of cattle; an
other the active agent in the death of foWs.by
cholera. Acting upon the knowledge he had
gained of the nature of these germs he pointed
out a means of relief that speedily prevented
spread of the diseases and ended their devasta-
ton.
TYNDALL, with the aid of other eminent
English investigators, made q number of ex-
am1nations of the floating particles in the at
mosphere, and found numbers of living spores
capable of producing disease. In dry and
healthy localities but few germs were found,
and these of the harmless varieties, while in low
damp places, crowded houses, and unhealthy
Cities the poisonous germs were extremely
numerous everywhere.
DR.. RUDOLPH KOCH, of Wallstein, Germany,
a man whose work in connection with the or
ganlsms of contagious diseases has made him
q recognized authority upon the subject, by
experimenting after the methods of VuLEMIN,
has discovered and published an account of
one of the most dangerous varieties, to which
it is proven more deaths are due than to any
disease incident to the human race.
He describes 1t as a simple cellular organ
ism belonging to the same order as the bdc-
terra. When dried the germs may, without
losing any vitality, endure great extremes Of
temperature Being as fine and light as dust,
invisible TO the naked eye, they may be blown
any distance by the wind or carried upon the
clothing or body. Like seeds they may lie for
months or years undisturbed upon the furni-
ture, floor, carpets, curtains, walls, or in the
bedding, and only requiring proper degree of
warmth, moisture and food to Waken into life,
develop and grow: They thrive and live in the
blood, lymph, mucus and secretions of the
human bodies. When the system is unhealthy
or weak they attack the cells that make up the
animal frame. Any albuminous fluid will fur
nish them with food for growth, and a single
drop Is sufficient to contain hundreds. Exam
med with microscopes Of great power, which
enlarge them SO that they can be seen and
studied they have the appearance of minute
rod-like bodies having, when active, some
power of motion. They bend in the middle
like bow and straighten with jerk that sends
them few times their own length. at the
temperature of the human body they are the
most active.
Their power of increase or reproduction is
remarkably great. One germ in few weeks
time, under favorable conditions, will give rise
to millions. The process is by simple growth
and divisions. Cold destroys or prevents their
growth, and this is why refrigeration prevents
decay of meats and other animal foods. Ex-
posed to warmth these small organisms attack
and eat up the albuminous tissues leaving
foul mass. The odors SO common to this pro-
cess are given off by these minute organisms
and is about the only indication of their pres
ence. This is the warning of nature and it is
an instinct to avoid all such SMELLS The foul
BREATH bad odors of old sores, etc., leads man
to avoid these germs in great measure
The danger of their presence in the body can
be imagined when their rapid increase is con-
sldered. few germs may be readily absorbed
into the system by breathing air containing
them. They are thus drawn into the interior
of the body through the long and narrow re-
spiratOry passages of the throat, chest and
nose, which are lined with soft membrane and
covered with sticky mucus. In this fluid they
find ready lodgment and favorable conditions
for development, increase and growth The
"cold or catarrh, ozena or chronic catarrh,
hay fever, ETC., are common manifestations of
the effects of one of the least harmful of
these germs or noicrozynaeS. In the discharges
from the respiratory passages at such times
thousands of the living animalcule are found
The fever, debility, pains sin the bones," loss
of appetite, etc., are indications of their de-
pressing effect upon the vital organs.
1t is from germs of slower DEVELOPMENT
however, that the greatest danger follows
To the one most fully described by KOCH is
due more deaths than any other known cause.
According to the researches of CUTTER, FLINT
and DEJERINE over eight million people die ey-
cry year from this cause alone. The annual
deaths In France, England, Germany and Rus
STA from their destruction was over one and q
half millions. In the United States and Can
ada over three hundred thousands persons
persisted in the last year from the bacillus
alone. The most common disease resulting
from 1t is consumption of the lungs, but other
organs of the body are liable to be affected as
they develop slowly but surely in any organ
that may be in a weak and unhealthy state.
If active and healthy, the liver, kidneys and
bowels have to a wonderful extent the power
of expelling these deadly animalcul@ or para
sites from the system. And this fact furnishes
an important indication for the successful
treatment Of all the long list of maladies
caused by these parasites as will be hereinafter
shown.
The studies of LANCIsCA, an eminent italian.
and WOOD, Formal and others, are interesting.
| as showing the large variety of chronic diseases
as heretofore classified, that result from these
germs. Among the most common were .Ehver
| complaint" biiousness or torpid liver dyspep-
STA or indigestion, lung affections, bronchitis.
kidney diseases, chronic diarrhoa, spinal COM
plant, fever-sores, white swellings, hip-joint
disease, rheumatism, malarial diseases, such as
fever and ague or intermittent fever, general
and nervous debilities, female weaknesses.
chronic catarrh of the head, or oz@na, MANY
| forms of unhealthy discharges from internal
organs, and all the various scrofulous affec-
lions of the skin, glands, bones, joints etc., in
| GLIDING consumption which is but scrofulous
| disease of the lungs.