The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-01-03
Pneumonia In Dwelling HOuses.

Whatever we may think of the prob
able connection between animalcuia
and infectious diseases, nobody can
deny the fact that certain special va
rietes of microzymes have been disCoY-
cred in certain pecialzymotic maiadies.
Acute croupous lobar- pneumonia is one
of these diseases, and n peculiar kind of
micrococci has been demonstrate to be
invariably p.eseut in this infectious
complaint.
In the penitentiary at Ambcrg, near
Regensburg. since 1857, a great many
cases OF acute pneumonia have taken
place, and it seemed as if the disease ut
times assumed an epidemic character
in that institution, while it continually
was present a. an endemic disorder
The last epidemic, happening from Jan
HAIRY to June, 1880. and during which
forty six of l6l prisoners succumbed to
the disease, induced the Government to
order careful investigation of the
causes producing the malady. DR..
Lmmerich received this commission.
Careful researches soon enabled him to
exclude occupation, diet, water, priv
les, and atmosphere as Geological Gle
ments. Ii is well known that between
the outer brick wall and the inner y as
ter covering of walls of rooms there is
a so-called filling" II space usually
filled out with laths and mortar AZ
nothing else seemed to open an
explanation for the endemic and
fire luently epidemic presence OF pneu-
monia in the prison, the doctor re
solved to examine carefully into
the condition OF this filling. Small par
ticIe5 taken from the layer below the
board floor, were powdered and spread
over sterlllzed gelatine. prepared from
meatwaterpepton (boullion). Within y
very few DAYS many and various kinds
of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS commenced tC
develop themselves, and amongst them.
those formed like the head of nail,
and of a milk-glass color, were pre-
dominant
These cOcci and diplococci were then
separated from the others. and cultured
by koch's pure culture process. The
macroScopical, as well as the micro
scopical appearance of these culture
exactly reSembled the description given
by Fricdlander and Frobenius of the
micrococci which these Investigators
had invariably found in the lungs of in
diyiduals having died with pneumonia
Blood serum and potato cultures gave
the same result. 1t may also be inter
esting to state that besides these pnel-
monte micrococci, DR.. Emmerich also
discovered numerous bacilli of malig-
nant udema.
He inocuiated mice and guiuea-pigs
with the nhcrococci obtained by his
procedures from the cocci originally
taken from the filling. He also caused
other animals to inhale the micrococc.
The blood, lungs and pleural exuda-
ton of the inoculated animals were
filled with the microzymes, aud OF
eight mice which had inhaled the mi
crococci, five sue cumbed to pneumonia.
The great Importance of these re
searches will become apparent if we
remember that seven per cent. of all
deaths are caused by acute pneumonia,
and that tubercular phthisis is the only
disease with still greater mortality.
BY the introduction of suitable material
for the filling OF these ''wall-and i'oor
interspaces," such a house epidemic
may in future be perhaps totally
avoided. The material should be
little porus rs possible, and be soaked
in an asept;c solution. He ,lH aaG
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