St. Paul daily globe., 1884-08-01
PARaSIrLo DISEASES

PARASITIC DISEASES.
For some time the country has been hear
ing of disease in cattle known as ''Lump-
ey Jaw" and within couple of days it is
announced that a woman in Chicago has
been sent to the hospital who is suffering
from the same disease, having, as it is as
serted, caught it from eating beef infected
with this peculiar distemper. The diagnosis
of ''Lumpey Jawn shows that 1t is caused by
the lodgment in the jaw of the animal of a
parasite which is found on grain, although
It's origin has not yet been discovered. It
Is asserted that there have been many cases
of it among human beings, and that 1t is
caused by the parasite gaining entrance to
the person through diseased teeth. The
parasite that does all THIS is named actinomy-
ces, and the resulting disease is termed ac-
tinomycosIs
This case Is another Of the many diseases
which modern science is attributing to the
existence of parasites. It has apparently
been demonstrated that consumption is due
to the work of minute parasites known as
},
and proceed to honeycomb them as a species
OF ants does wooden bodies. In the later
diagnoses Of cholera, the microscope of the
scientist has discovered germ which is al
so an animal parasite, aud which is believed
to cause the malady. In certain very de-
structive diseases among sheep, Pasteur has
discovered a parasite at the bottom of the
difficulty in every instance; and in scarlet
fever, smallpox, diptheria, and typhoid fe-
yer, 1t has long been suspected, If not posi-
itively known, that they are parasitic in their
origin, and that they are communicated by
the passage of the germ of one of them to a
vulnerable portion-termed the indus of
the body of human beings.
This parasitic theory is spreading to an
alarming extent. Already it is responsible
for cholera, consumption, hydrophobia and
possibly yellow fever, all the most dreaded
scourges of mankind. 1t is known that it is
the origin of that most horrible malady tri-
chiniasis, and the latest develop me Mt seems
to demonstrate that it will produce 'Lumpey
Jaw in the human subject. 1t will not be
long, at the present rate Of progress, before
1t will be concluded that all human
diseases are parasitic In their origin, and
with this will come revolution in the dag
noss of the ills that flesh is heir to. All the
race of doctors will be supplanted by helmin-
biologists, and the diseases of all animal
human and otherwise, will be limited to the
discovery of the worms that cause them and
the method of their destruction.
Man, as he sees himself under the devel-
opment Of this parasitic theory, cannot be
well pleased with the conclusion which is
forced upon him. He finds that as matter
of fact, he is but little more than a peripa-
tetic carvansera for the accommodation of
score or more of different kinds of parasitic
guests, who live on him free of charge all
their lives, and who as in the case of
bacilli do not hesitate To utterly destroy the
habitation which affords them shelter and
sustenance. They inhablt every part of the
body. There are Cestoidea, or tape worms,
several kinds of which recognize the human
body as their regular habitat; there are a half
a dozen kinds of the distoma which occupy
from choice the liver, and according to Van
Beneden, there are nine or ten kinds of Mem
atodes which lnhabit the digestive passages
and the flesh. According to the same COM
petent authority there are also four kinds of
cestodes which reside in man all their lives,
and which, of course, means as long as the
man himself lives. These cestodes are high
toned boarders, no back room suits them
They insist on the very best to be had In
their human hotel, aud are lodged sumptu-
ously in the eye-ball, the lobes OF the brain,
the heart, or the connective tissue. Profee-
sor Van Beneden also states that we, mean
ing we men and women, 1--WE also provide
living for three or four kinds of lice, for q
bug, flea, and two ascarides, without men
tioning certain inferior organizations viii ch
lurk in the tartar of the teeth, or In the secre-
tions of the mucous mem brane.''
In the view of this state of things the
much-mooted question, ''Is Life worth Liv-
ing2'' presents itself from new point of
view. 1t would appear that man is but little
more than juicy sort OF larder for a half
million parasites, each of which, under a
microscope, has more hooks, claws and
mandibles, than the worst creation of night
mare. Men apparently think they are born
for some great good; to establish empires,
annihilate the bad, and elevate and encour-
aye the good. Tnis is mans own idea, but
sLch is evidently not the plan of nature She
has constructed him convenient combina-
nation OF vehicle and pantry for the nourish-
ment and transportation of eestodes, disto-
ma, and other microscopic monsters. When
some inmate, a bacillus for instance, docs
not like his human hotel, he proceeds to tear
it down, and the world calls this act OF re-
venge, and vandalism, consumption.
1t is diseouraging. What's the use of
observing the rules OF health, and trying to
live to great age, when the nam result is
merely to extend the leases of the many
clawed aud many jawed tenants that in
habit the human interiorl This state OF
things simply makes OF man much har-
rassed landlord whose tenants are everla ST.
ingly grumbling, and demanding repairs, an d
who never pay any rent for their habtations,
and who do not hesitate In the least to de-
stroy their tenement the moment the unfor-
tunate proprietor grows careless as to their
demands.
Il C1IPAIGN OF FIRE.
corrupt party, putting in nomination as
its national candidate man personally cor
rupt, bribe tlker. who excha nred noliticaI