Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-05-19
WONDERFUL REVELATIONS OF THE
MICROSCOPE.

MICROSCOPE.
Discovery Of the Most Deadly Enemy Of
Mankind-The Bacillus and
Its Ravages.
The scientific world has been greatly
startled and agitated of late by the dlscov-
cry with the microscope OF the most dread
ads 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 noxlous
sources. Having by recent experiments
and research been shownt to be the 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 it 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
to universal discussion. At first received
with some su%spicionthey have atlength been
thoroughly proven, and are now receiving
the 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 the 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
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 $10,000.O0, 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. Acting upon
the knowledge he had gained Of the nature
of these germs he pointed ont a means OF
relief that speedily prevented a spread of
the diseases and ended their devastation.
TYNDALL, with the aid of other eminent
English Investigators, made a number of
examinations of the floating particles in
ing spores capable of producing disease.
In dry and healthy localities but few germs
were found, and these of the harmless va
%rieties, while in low damp places, crowded
houses, and unhealthy cities, the poisonous
germs were extremely numerous every
where.
DR.. RUDOLPH Koch, of Wallstein, Ger.
many man whose work in connection
with the organisms of contagious diseases
has made him a recognized authority upon
the subject, by experimenting after the
methods of V%ILLEMIN, 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 a 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
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 upont 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 a single drop is suf.
fcient 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
mute rod-like bodies having, when active,
some power of motion: They bend in the
AlAluu1c 1lho b UOW uuu SUIdlSlUen WIFI h
jerk that sends them a 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 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 animalfoods Exposedto warmth
these small organisms attack and eat up
the albuminous tissues leaving a foul mass.
odors SO common to this process are
given off by these minute organisms, and is
about the only indication of their pres
ence. This is the warming 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 a 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 and
covered with sticky mucus. In this fluid
they find ready lodgment and favorable
conditions for development, increase and
growth. The "cold" or catarrh, ozaena or
chronic catarrh, hay fever, etc., are COM
mon manlIeSCaClOnS OF the effects OF one of
the least harmful of these germs or MI
%cr0sy1nes. In the discharges from the
respiratory passages at such times thou
sands of the living animalcul8 are found.
The fever, debility, pains sin the bones,"
loss of appetite, ETC., are indications Of
their depressing effects 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 to any other known
cause. According to the researches of
CUTTER, FLINT, and DEJER1NE over eight
million people die every year from this
cause alone. The annual deaths in France,
England, Germany and Russia from their
destruction was over n and a half mill
ions. In the United States and Canada
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 to
be affected as they develop slowly but sure
ly in any organ that may be in a weak or
unhealthy state.
II active and healthy, the liver, kidneys
and bowels AVE to a wonderful extent the
power of expelling these deadly. animalcu-
lac or parasites 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 Tta1.