Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-09-17
GERMS OF DISEASE.
The Different Methods OF Their Maitip
cation.

cation.
Life in tAis world Il. ~ II were. a
balancing seesaw between different OF.
Canisms, in which each helps the rest
a cycle Of actions which are to n GER
tain extent dependent on each other.
The molecules of the grain Of wheat
in part help - construct the ve=svie
cells in mans arm. and in part fur
nish fuel for motive poWn 10 theSo
cells, whilo the excreted products ot
these cells in the form of carbonic acid.
urea, etc, and finally the products OF
decomposition Of these cells. may 90
to construct new grain of wheat
But to enable the vegetable to make
use Of the animal cell as food, the lat
ter must be split up into simpler combs
nations, and this Is effected by micro
organisms OF various kinds. The great
majority Of these minute beings ara
harmless TO man so long as they ara
confined to his skin and alimentlIS
canal; in fact, every one carries millic c1s
of them on and within hinsslf. and il
is doubtful whether he co,li property
digest his food without hioir hclp
| There are, however, some forms %
these little granules and rojs, or micro
cocc and bacteria. which s1e not 20 in
nocent and harmless, but which on the
contrary. produce disease s1d death ip
many of those to whose syilerhs they
! gain admitiance.
Some OF these disease germs multiply
only within the bodies Of liviqg animals,
so, for instance, these whifh give rise
TO smallpox and scarlet fe7Br; they re.
tain their vitality for time when thrown
OF in eXcretions; but they do not in.
crease in number until they gain ac.
cess to living tissues. anil hence the dis.
eases which they cause are propasStci
by contagion only. OtEer dise1se
germs multiply. so far as We know.
almost exclusively outside TIC living
body, and produce their effects sG man
not by growing within him, but by poi.
soning him with their products, as com.
mon yeast may be said to be the cause OF
delirium tremens through the agency
OF the alcohol which it produces Ma.
laria is a type OF this class.
A third kind multiply both within and
without the living body, and some OF
these appear 10 especially mp,t.ply and
flourish in human excreia. As yet we
know very Little OF the life history OF
these disease germs, or as 10 how they
produce their effects; we are not even
certain as to whether they are distinct
separate species or whether they may
not be some OF the common micro.
organisms whi h by over feeding or
otherwi.e have become abnormal, raj
croscopic monsters as II were, produc
ing evil instead Of good.
What we do know is that very MI
mute quantity Of excreta from a case oi
cholera or typhoid fever NAV, when
introduced into the alimentary canal
OF healthy rerson, produce, in that
person disease similar 10 the one from
which the germ originally came;
AMI we also have good reason 10 be.
lieve that II few such germs fall into
mass OF excreta, rs In n cess-pOol,
they may under certain conditions
multiply very rapidly and render the
whO'e mass Of filth infectious, so that
any portion Of I will be capable Of
eonye ing the disease.
Their action Is closely analogous 10
that Of yea /. and the diseases which
are supposed 10 be due 10 such action
are known as the zymotic or fcrment
diseases.
Hence comes one great danger Of
retaining or storing in the vicinity Of
humah habitations quantities OF organic
matter suitable for the nourishment of
such organisms, for the channels
through which such collections may
become dangerously inoculated are
so numerous and, in the present state Oi
our knowledge so imposs bic TO guard
against that casks OF powder or cases
OF dynamite would be really safer
ncighbors.
Sewage is not only source Of dan
ger in this way, bat also through tho
products OF its decomposition. The
most important Of these In this connec-
ton are the gases and e1luyia evolved
In putreiaciion, such as hydrogen sui.
plide. ammonium sulphide, carbon
diOyide. and certain organic yapors OF
very complex constitution, chiefly char.
acterized by unpleasant odors.
When concentrated, as In old cess
pools or vaults. these may produce
suliocatiOn and almost Immediate death.
or great prostration, violent vomiting
anh purglng, commissions aud death in
from one 10 two days
The circumstances are rare which
produce suoh effects as these; usually
the gases are greatly diluted before
beng breathed, spd the effects are less
marked.
Constant exposure 10 such afr Inn
pairs health gradually. but distinctly.
especially In infants and childron. the
symptoms produced being loss OF appe-
lite. languor. slight headachcs. etc. -
= s. Hhflngs, NJ d., N Harpe,'s Aqg'
Asine.