Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-10-23
On a Microbe Hunt.
A French Physician, Hunting
Yellow Fever Germs,
FINDS HIS WAY TO JACKSONVILLE,

Where He Will Try to Get on the Trail
of the Fever Disseminator-And When
Found Look for Something that Will
XIII 1t Without Also Killing the Patient
An Alabama Mans Radical Proposal
New Victims in the Stricken District.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, Oct 23.--Dr. Paul
Gibier, an eminent practitioner OF Paris, and
an accredited emissary OF the French gov
eminent. arrived in this city yesterday noon
from Washington, where he bad stopped to
confer with Surgeon General Hamilton DR..
Gibier has been sent to this city by the
French government to investigate yellow fe-
yer, investigation in this connection COM
pretending the cause, development, propa-
cation, spread and cure OF the disease. 1t
has been enormously stated that he is dis
ciple of the inocuationists. He comes to in
vestigate, study and report, not to prove his
own or the theory Of any one else.
His work therefore promises excellent
results. More than year ago DIR. Gibier
was sent to Havana by the French govern
ment to pursue investigation there into the
subject of yellow fever The beginning OF
the summer, however, he returned to Paris,
and about SIX weeks ago was ordered upon
this mission to Jacksonville Upon reaching
this city he presented his credentials to DR..
| Neil Mitchell, president of the board of
health, and Dr. j. Y Porter, of the govern
ment medical bureau As the accredited
emissary Of the French government
officials at Washington requested that every
attention be paid him, and that every facility
| be extended to him for the pursuit OF his in
| vestigation and this will be DONE
| "On what specific directions have your
| investigations been prosecuted he was asked.
| MAINLY in a search for the yellow fever
| germ. Friere in France and Sternburg in
| your country have both made search for this
| microbe, and both think they have discov.
cred it. | may say my own studies have
| led me to a like conclusion, but in all three
| instances the microbe is different one The
| object is, of course, to discover the germ
which induces yellow fever; that once done,
to find specific watch will kill it, without
at the same killing the patient; and, further,
/. to learn what conditions of climate, atmos-
phere etc. are favorable to its development.
"Shall you remain here long, DR.. Gibier I"
"Until tine end of the epidemic, in all prob
ability" replied the physician. IL will soon
60 to the Sand Hills hospital, with DR.. Solace
Mitchell, where will begin my investigs-
tions. DR.. Mitchell has kindly offered me
every facility for the work. l am assured
that the sand hills are in area as vet uuin-
fected"
The method of scientific investigation is
somewhat as follows: 1t is not necessary ,ac.
cording to DR. Gibier, to make an autopsy
upon the body of yellow fever patient.
Black vomit is quite as valuable for his
! Tba IA fba
same process as is generally employed by
scientists in bacteriology. The liquid por-
tions being separated from the solids, many
germs or Microbes are detected by
the aid of the microscope. They
are of great variety of form and in
many respects entirely different in
character. To detect the real yellow fever
germ is now the task, a germ which has been
present in the stomach of yellow fever pa
tent, and which does not exist in the stom-
ach or system of another. Selecting some for
this analysis the investigator places them in
some nutritire system adapted to their de-
velopment and then their growth begins, AS
this growth continues excellent opportuni-
ties are afforded for scientific experiment
Different specifics are applied in order to
learn what stimulates and what retards
growth, and what kills the germ entirely
A wide field for research is thus opened, and
to check its progress and ultimately destroy
it If possible
When it is brought to mind that France
has rarely had any yellow fever within her
borders and that the object of the govern
ment in sending DIR. Giber hitler is purely
in the interest of science and philanthropy it
appears 10 he almost reproach upon our
government that it has permitted the oppor-
tunities of this epidemic so far to run to
waste, DR.. Gibier promises to keep the
public informed in all matters which may be
of interest to it
The number of new cases yesterday wa'
!. forty three, and one death. OF the new
cases eight were white and thirty-fve col
ored. Total cases to date, g $50; total deaths
~