The Delta independent., 1886-12-21
Tie Germ Theory.

The germ theory of disease continues
TO be discussed, and great credi. is
| given to DR.. Rudolph Koch, of Berlin,
for his labor in this field of enquiry. To
him is due the method of discovering
the iacilius in tuberculosis, which many
| believe fully establishes the parasitiye
cause of consumption The report from
| Egypt of the Scientific Commission
promises to be of very great import-
ance. DIR. Koch is at the head of this
| great Commission. and will proceed to
! India. which affords an excellent field
Tor the investigation of clo.era cases.
| Not only are the scientists of Germany
Mt work in this direction, but L. pusteur.
Declat, and other eminent French
savans, are giving their most earnest
| attention to the same work, and have
been equally successful in discovering
the micro-or2anisms and in demonstrat-
ing the parasitic origin of the cholera.
DIR. Declat and others have been equally
| successful in yellow fever.
DIR. Cutler. physician of Chicago,
is an earnest advocnte of the germ the
ory He believes that the Texas cattle
fever (or Spanish fever) is of parasitic
origin and that the disease can be rem
dered innocuous by the innoculatiop
bacillus. DIR. Cutler has had a good
deal of experience with cattle. He
says: "In 1860, as member Of the
committee on the part of the Kansas
Legislature, / had an opportunity to
examine into the disease, then prevail
ing at q fearful rate in the southern
portion of the State, and sweeping off
whole herds of native cattle. Although
without microscopic facilities, the man
ner Of the contagion and every part GU
larity of the disease pointed to its par
asitic origin. During the war. while
United States Indian Agent, and sta.
toned in the Indian country, south, /
had occasion to feed vast numbers Of
cattle, both northern and southern, to
the Indians under my charge. The
danger OF mixing the cattle from the
two sections was, OF course, great, AMI
ed me to experiment. found by m.
loculation with the blood of an affected
animal could produce disease similar
in every particular. but, unfortunately,
fatal in many cases At that term the
germ theory of disease was compare
lively unknown. Had the bacillus been
properly cultivated ! am morally GER
;ain il. would have proved as harmless
and as eiiectual as the same process has
proved in France and Germany"
1t is said that charbon is even a more
fatal disease than cattle fever; and it is
also beiiev.d to be of parasitic origin.
The same is thought to be true of swine
plagie,- chicken cholera and other
diseases SO fatnl. to domestic animals.
American scientists should thoroughly
investigate this germ theory, and il
ilrey are not the original discoverers,
they can,,at least determine for them
selves how far DIR: Koches theory, is
correct, ,,ard. il they find that in the di-
rection q. iAe. parasite theory disense
cnn be. stayed OF greatly mitiautcd.
they should. assist in bringing
the facts o4lle knowledge of republic
The stock interests Of this country arc
immense. and the disease with which
the cattle, sheep and swine are threat
ened are alarming II is hoped that
science will be able to stay the conta-
gious diseases which have created
such widespread alarm Washington
Chronicle.