The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-24
DIR. REEvEs,s DISCOVERY.


He Tells Reporter What He Has
Learned of the Yellow Fever Germ.
From the Chattanooga Times.
DIR. Sternberg, OF Baltimore, Md, who
has for the last six or eight years been in
vestigating the yellow fever, with view
to discovering the specific cause, it will be
remembered, spent portion OF the sum"
mer at Decatur investigating the disease.
DIR. sternberg is possibly one of the
most successful and noted psychologists
in this or any other country. While in
Decatur conducting his investigations he
kindly sent to DR.. James f. Reeves, OF
this city, pieces from the liver and kidneys
Of several eases of yellow fever for micro.
scope examination with a view OF search
ing for the specific germ Of that disease.
Dr. Reeves took these tissues and begssn
his investigations. From mounting of
the very first cases he found micro
organism in them which led him strongly
TO believe that he had found the germ.
He continued his research and thoroughly
examined all OF the tissues sent him from
Decatur and he found the same thing in
all more or less developed.
He forwarded mounted slides to various
microscopes and scientific men through
out the country, who, one and all, say that
the result is exceedingly interesting, II
nothing else, some declaringthat ii was the
yellow fever germ. Mounted slides Of
these tissues were sent to Prof. Ii. j. Det-
ners, of the Ohio State University the
discoyerer Of the hog cholera germ. These
slides were photographed and forwarded
to the Johns Hopkins University. The
micro-organism is n lacilu', rod-like in
! shape, and is found in schools OF millions
in the tissues. SO very much struck are
the scientific men with the discovery that
DIR. Reeves has been invited to come TO
Johns Hopkins University, under pay, TO
make demonstration OF what he has
found and the method employed. In ac-
cordance with this invitation DR.. Reeves
will leave for Baltimore the latter part OF
the first week Of the new year.
A Times reporter called to see DIR. Reeves
at his office on McCallie street. and asked
him with reference 10 his discovery. The
doctor was not prepared to say definitely
what his find amounte 20, but said:
"The discovery OF these bacilli in tho
tissues lead me TO hope that | have found
the germ OF yellow fever but, as q matter
OF course, we cannot say definitely until
We have further carried on Investigation.
/ can say this much, that in all my expert
ence with micro-orgauism / have never
seen anything like that which ! have
discovered in the tissues furnished mo
from yellew fever patients who died at
Decatur. | have examined these tissues
in every way and under different staining
agents and have always met with the same
result, which leads Inc TO believe that
whether these bacilli are the specific germs
OF yellow fever they are certainly an or
ganism pertaining TO and only found in
the tissues Of persons suffering from yell
low fever. | shall go to Baltimore and
consult with scientific men OF Johns Hop
kins University and my experiments will
be carried out, and we may then be able
10 tell what ii is | have found, but until
these precautions have been taken by
making experiments ~ being peculiar TO
| yellow fever cases, there IL, of course, more
or less uncertainty about IL.
The reporter was shown by the doctor
the mountings he had made from the vari-
Gus tissues and saw most interesting
sight. The tissues were filed with red
| like spots, hundreds Of which might be put
upon blunt pin point
II this investigation should prove sue
cessful in the establishment Of the yellow
fever, il will be the greatest scientific ac-
complishment Of the age, and the demon
sration will receive the gratitude OF the
entire Southern people, who live in con-
slant dread OF n visitation OF the yellow
scourgc. II will save thousands OF lives,
and secure from loss 10 the business aud
commercial world mil ions a dollars The
result OF DIR. Recyes's experiment will,
therefore, be watched with the greatest
| interest