Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-05-11
WONDERFUL REVELATIONS OF THE
MICROSCOPE.
Discovery OF tho Most Deadly Enemy Of
EfaniSind-The Baoilius and
Its Ravnres.

Discovery OF tho Most Deadly Enemy OF
ManlSind-The bacillus and
Its Ravagcs. .N
The scientific world has been greatly
startled and agitated Of late by the discoy-
cry with the microscope OF the most dread.
ful enemy of mankind in the form of myri-
ads of little death.dealing parasites. The
air we breathe and live in is charged with
these deadly little growths In proportion
rs IL is infected from various noxious
sources. Having by recent experiments
and research been shown to be tho most
fruitful cause of disease known, and the
welfare and health of every individual de-
pending so largely on the freedom from
their destructive ravages, IL Is but natural
that the reports of reccnt investigators in
this field of scientific inquiry should be
widely read, and that every phase of these
astounding discoveries should be subject
to universal discussion. At first received
with some suspicion they have atlength been
thoroughly proven, and are now receiving
tho unqualified endorsements of the lead
ing scientific men throughout the world.
But little else is talked of in the schools
and clubs of science, and tho medical and
scientific journals are crowded with the
testimony that is being added corrobora-
tive of the value of the marvellous discov-
cry which is pronounced the greatest ad-
vance 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 probably due tho honor of first
pointing out the terrible power of these
germs. In recognition of his great service
tho government has recently voted him
from the public treasury $10,000.00, with
which to continue his experiments. He
has described several varieties of these
parasites, some comparatively harmless,
others extremely dangerous. One form he
proved by a 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. Actingupon
the knowledge he had gained of the nature
of these germs he pointed out q means of
relief that speedily prevented a spread of
the diseases and ended their devastation.
TYHDALL, with the aid of other eminent
English Investigators, made number of
examinations of the floating particles in
the atmosphere, and found numbers of liv-
ing spores capable Of producing disease.
In dry and healthy localities but few germs
wero found, and these of the harmless va
houses, and unhealthy cities, the poisonous
germs were extremely numerous every
where. H
DIR. RUDOLPH KOCH, Of Wallstein, Ger.
many, n man whose work in connection
with tho organisms of contagious diseases
has made him a recognized authority upon
the subject, by experimenting after the
methods of VILLrMIN, 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 it as simple cellular organ.
ism belonging to the same order as the
bacteria. When dried the germs may, with
out losing any vitality, endure great ex.
tremes of temperature. Being as fine and
rs 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 furniture, floor,
carpets, curtains, walls, or in the bedding,
and only requiring a proper degree of
life, develop, and grow. They thrive and
live in the blood, lymph, mucus and secre-
tions of the human body. When the sys-
TEN is unhealthy or weak they attack the
cells that make up the animal frame. Any
albuminous fluid will furnish them with
food for growth, and single drop is suf.
tlcient to contain hundreds. Examined
with microscopes of great power, which en-
large them so that they can be seen and
studied, they have the appearance of mi
| some power of motion. They bend in the
| middle like bow and Straighten with q
| jerk that sends them few times their own
| length. AT the temperature of tho humasl
body they are the most active.
Their power of increase OF reproduction
is remarkably great. One germ in a few
weeks time, under favorable conditions,
| will give rise to millions. The process is
| by simple growth and division. Cold de.
| stroys or prevents their growth, and this is
| why refrigeration prevents decay of meats
! and other animal foods. Exposedto warmth
| these small organisms attack and eat up
the albuminous tissues leaving foul mass.
The odors SO common to this process are
| given OFT by these minute organisms, and is
| about the only indication of their pres.
| ence. This Is the warning of nature and ii
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 considered. A 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 respiratory
| passages of the throat, chest and nose
| which are lined with soft membrane ant
covered with sticky mucus. In this fluid
they find ready lodgment and favorable
conditions for development, increase and
growth. The ''coidn or catarrh, ozena OF
chronic catarrh, hay fever, ETC., are com
| mon manifestations of the effects of one of
the least harmful of these germs or mi
croSyaeS. In the discharges from the
respiratory passages at such times thou
sands of the living animalculae are found
The fever, debility, pains sin the bones,
loss of appetite, etc., are indications Of
their depressing effects upon the vita
| organs. 500 fr
1t is from germs of slower development
| however, that tho greatest danger follows
To the one most fully described by KocE
is due more deaths than to any other known
| cause. According to the researches o.
CUTTER, FLINT, and DEJERINE over eigh
million people die every year from thi'
cause alone. The annual deaths in France
/ fpOlnnl and Rnccio thni
| destruction was over one and q half mill
ions. In the United States and Canadf
over three hundred thousand persons per
ished in the last year from the bacillus
alone. The most common disease result
ing from it is consumption of the lungs
but other organs of the body are liable Il
be affected as they develop slowly but sure
ly in any organ that may be n weak ol
unhealthy state.
If active and healthy, the liver, kidneys
| and bowels have to wonderful extent thu
power of expelling these deadly animalcu
lac or parasites from the system. And this
fact furnishes an important Indication fol-
the successful treatment of all the long lis
of maladies caused by these parasites a!
| will be hereinafter shown.
The studies of LANCIsCA, an eminent Ital
ian, and WooD, FoRMAD and others, are in
teresting, as showing tho large va
ricty OF chronic diseases as heretofore
classified, that result from these germs
Among the most common were silver com
plaint," biliousness or torpid liver, dyspep
sin or indigestion, lung affections, bron
chitis, kidney diseases, chronic diarrh@a
| spinal complaint, fever-sores, white swell
ings, hip-ioint disease, rheumatism. ma
iarlal diseases, such as fever ana ague ol
intermittent fever, general and nervous de
bil!ties, female weaknesses, chronic catarrl
of the head, or oZena, many forms of un
healthy discharges from internal organs
and all tho various scrofulous affections o.
the skin, glands, bones, joints, etc., includ
ing consumption, which is but scrofulou
disease of the lungs.
In this large catalogue of apparently
widely differing diseases, but really all de
pending upon common cause, and there
fore naturally to be successfully treated oil
the same general principles, examination
of tho blood and secretions revealed large
numbers of these parasites, and curiously
enough the number bore direct relation
to the severity of the disease, compare
lively small number being present in mile
cases and very large proportion, In bat
cases. Under the use of the specific treat
| mout which thew give. and which is sub