The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-05-12
WONDERFUL REVELATIONS OF THE
MICROSCOPE
Discovery of tho Most Deadly Enemy OF
Msnicind-The bacillus aud
les Ravages.

startled and agitated of late by the discov-
cry with the microscope of the most dread
full 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
as IL is infected 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 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
astounding discoveries should be subject
TO universal discussion. At first received
with some suspicion they 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 journ~ls are crowded with the
testimony that is being added corrobora-
tive of the value of the marvellous discov-
cry which is pronounced the greatest adj
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 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 SlO,OOO.0O, 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 out means Of
relief that speedily prevented 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
the atmosphere, and found numbers of liv-
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.
! DIR. RUDOLPH Koch, of Wallstein Ger
many, a 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 NILLEMLN, 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 10 bIlc HdLlt OIQtI us lAe
/ bacteria When dried the germs may, with
out losing any vitality, endure great eX-
/ tremeS of temperature. Being as fine and
| as 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
! warmth, moisture and food to wa1en into
I Il
live in the blood, lymph, mucus and secre-
/ lions of the human body. When the sys-
tenn 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-
ficient 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
middle like a bow and straighten with a
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 animal foods. EXpOsedto warmth
these small organisms attack and eat NJ
the albuminous tissues leaving a foul mass
The 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 warning of nature and Il
is an instinct to avoid all such smells. The
p foul breath, bad odOrs of old sores, etc.
leads man TO avoid these germs in a great
measure. The danger of their presence il
the body can be imagined when their RAPID
increase is considered. A few germs may
be readily absorbed into the system 10y
breathing air containing them. They ar,
! thus drawn into the interior of the body
I through the long and narrow respiratOr,
: passages of the throat, chest and nose
which are lined with soft membrane AM
covered with sticky mucus. In this fluit
they find ready Judgment and Favorable
I conditions for development, increase ant
! growth. The "cold" or catarrh, ozena o
, chronic catarrh, hay fever, etc, are com
mon manifestations of the effects of one OF
the least harmful OF these germs or mi
D crOzymeS In the discharges from tn
< respiratory passages at such times thou
: sands of the living animalcule are found
: The fever, debility, pains I'm the bones,
loss of appetite, ETC., are indications o
their depressing effects upon the vita
e organs.
n it is from germs of slower development
however, that the greatest danger follows
To the one most fully described by KOC
Is que more uedluS tlhu 10 any OlucI KNOW
u cause. According to the researches {
CUTTER, FLINT, and DEJERINE over eigl
million people die every year from thi
cause alone. The annual deaths in Franc,
1 England, Germany and Russia from thei
destruction was over one and a half mil
k ions. In the United States and Canad
a over three hundred thousand persons pc
a ished in the last year from the b0Ciiil
alone. The most common disease result
ing from it is consumption of the lung
10,
d be affected as they develop slowly but sur
n | w in any organ that may be in weak