National Republican., 1883-02-21
WONDERFUL REVELATIONS OF THE
MICROSCOPE.
Discovery OF the Most Deadly Enemy OF
nIanlsind-The Bacillus and its Ravages

startled and agtated Of late by the discovery
with the microscope of the most dreadful en-
emy 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 in
feoted from various noxious sources. Having
by recent experiments and research been
shown to be the most fruitful cause Of disease
known. and the welfare and health Of every
individual depending 80 largely ON the fl O.
dom from their destructive ravages, IL is but
natural that the reports of recent Investigators
in this field of scientific inquiry should be
widely read, and that every phase of these
astounding discoveries should 9e subject
to universal discussion. At first received
with some suspicion they have at length
been thoroughly proven, and are now
receiving the unqualified Endorsements of the
leading scientific men throughout the world.
But little else is talked of in the 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 marvellous discovery which is pronounced
the greatest advance in medical science OF
modern times.
To l.. Pasteur, the eminent French scientist,
who by his learned Investigations has saved
to France SO many millions of dollars is proba.
bly, due the honor of first pointing out the
terrible power of these germs In recognition
of his great service the government has re-
Gently voted him from the public treausury
$4,000 with which to continue his expert
ments. He has described several varieties of
these parasites, some comparatively harmless,
others extremely dangerous. One form he
proved by q series of vaccinations and other
conclusive experiments was the cause OF death
of many thousands of animals and herds of
cattle another the active agent in the death
of fowls by cholera. Acting upon the knowl-
edge he had gained of the nature of these
germs he pointed out means of relief that
speedily prevented u spread Of the diseases
and ended their devastation
Tyndall, with the aid of other eminent Eng
lish investigators, made number of eNami'
nations of the floating particles in the atmos-
phere, and found numbers of living spores
capable of producing disease. In dry aud
healthy localities but few germs were found,
and these of the harmless varieties, while in
low, damp places, crowded houses, and un-
healthy Cities the poisonous germs were ex-
tremely numerous everywhere.
DIR. Rudolph Kooh of Wallstein, Germany,
man whose work in connection with the
organisms of contagious diseases has made
him a recognized authority upon the subject
by experimenting after tho methods Of Viii
lemin has discovered and published an ac-
count of one of the most dangerous varieties,
to which IL is proven more deaths are due
than to any disease incident to the human
race.
He describes it as q 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 tho wind or carried upon the
clothing or body. Like seeds, they may lie
for months OF years undisturbed upon the
furniture, floor, carpets, curtains, walls, or in
the bedding, and only requiring proper
degree of warmth, moisture and food to walen
into life, develop, and grow. They thrive
and live in the blood, lymph, mucus and secre-
tions of the human body. When the system
is unhealthy or weak they attack the cells
that make up the animal frama. Any albu'
minous fluid will furnish them with food fol
growth, and q single drop is sufficient tc
contain hundreds. Examined with micro
scopes of great power, which enlarge them SO
that they can be seen and studied, they have
the appearance of n minute rod-like bodies
having, when active, some power of motion
They bend in the middle like bow and
straighten with n jerk that sends them few
times their own length. AT the temperature oi
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 simply
growth and division. Cold destroys or pre-
vents their growth, and this is why refrigera
tion prevents decay of meats and other ami
NAL foods. Exposed TO warmth these small
organisms attack and eat up the albuminou:
tissues leaving foul mass. The odors Sc
common to this process are giving of by thesC
minute organisms, and is about the only in
dication of their presence. This Is the warn
ing of nature and IL Is an instinct to avoid al
such smells. The foul breath, bad odors oI
old sores, &C., leads man to avoid these germ
in a great measure. The danger Of thei
presence in the body can be imagined wheI
Ahair rnnid inrrnaga Ia nDnSidpra1 A few
germs may be readily absorbed into the system
by breathing air containing them. They are
thus drawn into the interior ofthe body through
the long narrow and respiratory passage
of the throat, chest, and nose, which are linet
with soft membrane and covered with sticky
mucus. In this fluid they find ready lodg
ment and favorable conditions for develop
ment, increase and growth. The "cold" Of
eatarrh, oziena or chronic catarrh, hay fever
BE-, arc common manifestations of the effect
of one of the least harmful Of these germs o.
nicrOsymes. In the discharges from the res.
piratory passages at such times thousands o.
the living animalCul@ are found. The fever
debility pains sin the bones," loss of appetite
&C., are indications Of their depressing effects
upon the vital organs.
1t isl from germs of slower development, how
ever that the greatest danger follows. To tn,
one most fully described by Koch is due NOR,
deaths than to any other known cause. Ao
cOrdng to the researches of Cutter, Flint, ant
Dejerine over eight million people die ever,
year from this cause alone. The annua
deaths in France, England, Germany, ant
Russia from their destruction was over on,
aud half millions. In the United States ant
Canada over three hundred thousands persons
perished in the last year from the bdciuu
alone. The most common disease resulting
from it is consumption of the lungs, but othe
organs of the body are liable to be affected al
they develop slowly but surely in any orgaI
that may be in weak or unhealthy state
If active and healthy, the liver, kidneys
and bowels have to a wonderful extent thu
power of expelling these deadly animalcula
OF parasites from the system. And this fac
furnishes an important indication for the sue
esssful treatment of all the long list of mala
dies caused by these parasites, as will be here
matter shown,
The studies of Lancisca, an eminent Ital
ian, and Wood, Formal, and others, are inter
estng, as showing the large variety of chronic
diseases as heretofore classified, that resul
from these germs. Among the most common
were "liyer complaint" biliousness or torpi,
liver, dyspepsia or indigestion, lung atfee
tions, bronchitis kidney diseases, chronic
diarrhma, spinal complaint, fever sores, whit
swellings, hip joint disease, rheumatism, ma
lural diseases such as fever and ague or in
tormittent fever, general and nervous debili
lies, female weaknesses, chronic catarrh o
the head or ozena, many forms of unhealth,
discharges from internal organs, and all th
various scrofulous affections of the skin
Rlands, bones, joints, &C.. including consump
.phfeh IA hnt cppnfulnug HigpaCa nf