The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-18

site as to render the body unfit for thu
production OF a second crop. The soil II
exhausted and until the lost constituent
IS restored the body is protected from any
further attack Of the same disorder. IL
exhaust a soil, however, parasite les
vigorous and destructive than the really
yirulent one may suffice; and ii, after hay
ing by means OF feebler organism ex'
hausted the soil without fatal result, the
most highly virulent parasite be intro
duced into the system, it will prove pow
erless."
Prof. Tyndall discovers an acquaintance
with the spirit that crucIied Christ and
put the martyrs to the stake for daring Ia
think-that spirit that has driven the great
| public benefactor from this State-in the
following; "a great scientific theory has
never been accepted without opposition,
The theory OF gravitation, the theory Of
undulation, the theory OF evolution, the
dynamic theory OF heat, all had to push
their way through conflict OF theory. And
so it has been with the germ theory OF
communicable diseases. Where
the mind of genius discerns the distant
truth which 1t pursues, the mind not so
gifted often discerns nothing but the ex-
travagant, which il avoids"
As confirming Dr. Billings in his work
on hog cholera, that for which he has been
most held up in derision, DIR. Shakes
peare, president OF the board appointed
by the Government to decide between
DIR. Billings and DIR. Salmon, in an al.
dress before the Nebraska House OF
Representatives, few weeks ago,
said: 81 shall speak but briefly about
the method OF incubation us a preventive
OF destructive diseases. The
point shall endeavor to impress upon
your minds is that wo have found that
diseases OF a similar nature to Texas fever
and hog cholera are preventive; we want
TO make sure that these diseases will not
occur second time to the same animal.
You who are familiar with the character
istics OF hog cholera know whether or not
an animal is liable to q second attack.
Does II occur a second time to the
same animal? Ii it does not, then there
must be remedy for ii, as there is for
kindred diseases. We have found that by
incubation the disease can in all proba-
bility be prevented, but the difficulty with
this remedy lies in the fact that the ami
mai inoculated becomes as dangerous to
its associates rs the animal which has the
disease ITSELF While the herd which is
inoculated may be safe, yet the herd Of
the adjoining farmer is exposed to rs great
danger as though the inoculated herd
had the dread disease. But we believe
there is better remedy within the reach
OF scientific research. The cause OF this
disease Is OF vegetable nature, aud rs
has been found in the investigation OF
other diseases there Is doubtless a chemi.
cal product which may be discovered, aud
which will prove 10 be a safe and absolute
preventative Of hog cholera"
Are the opinions Of tho men quoted
above ms weighty and as worthy OF much
respect rs those made by Gerth, Manatt
and Salmon2 Are they all theexpressons
OF irauds2 II not, why Is the work OF DIR.
Billings, that Is but the realization OF what
these men prophesy, but an extension OF
the results they worked for. fraud? A
few weeks ago DIR. Billings announced the
discovery Of the germ OF the ''cornstalk
disease" The members OF the board Of
live stock agents aud their following held
up their waning index and shook their
heads in assumed inorcdulity, then with
the assumption OF exclusive wisdom whis-
pered Ia every willing ear, "iraud." DR..
Billings cultivated the germ. inoculatcd
several small animals and a steer, produc.
ing the disease in every instance, then
sent tubes containing pure cultures OF the
germ 10 Prof Burrill. OF the University Of
Illinois, AM members OF the examining
board appointed by the Government to
investigate hog cholera. On March o Prof.
Burrill writes concerning tho tubes DR..
Billings sent himi
The tubes arc all fertile, and
as FAR as examined have pure cultures. /
have not fully studied tho microbe, but
am not little surprised that the thing Is
50 near like hog cholera In its microscope.
cal characteristics. hut find no difficulty
IN applying your description. / have al.
ready tried incubation on rabbit, and
will further study your culture and let YOU
know result. | have not, but will look up
my old slides and compare. Win write
you early next week. In the meantime |
congratulate you upon the progress already
made in this entirely new work. Bravo
iiuuiedly, but truly yours,
J. I. BuRRlLL
Later Prof Durill writes ~ follows
uNNEnsTrY oF ILLINOIS.
CHANrAi0S, li1-. March n. iss9 I
My Dear Doctor-I find on comparison
with my old slides that the microbe from
your cultures oilers mainly In Its smaller
size. / send Won a slide taken from the
diseased corn stalks. This
corn stalk trouble Is M I found II, very
local, occurring In given AREA OF n field,
and not elsewhere. In several instances I
found IL only upon low spots, and In two
instances on ground that had been pond
hole NATL NIa NsaaN..Nas
were tile drained. | now
have some young corn growing, and will
try the effect (ol inoculation) from your
cultures. Your germ is moiilc In liquids.
and In this agrees with my microbe.
Neither liquolcs gclatine. But | did not
sufficiently study the corn thing 10 be able
90 compare much further. My
inoculalcd rabbit Is well 80 iar-two
days. BURRuL
Prof Burrill has since written that
''the mice and rabbits inoculated have all
dicd."
We give tins much space 10 Prof Bur.
rill's letters because they confirm Dr.
Billings latest work, and this confrma.
ton Is all that has lad an opportunity 10
come In. The microbe was found In the
corn by the DeldDy cattle near Fremont,
aud as Prof Burril Is botanical micro.
scopist, DR.. Billings referred tho matter
20 him with tho results indicated above.
DO they carry the impress OF inud2
Fraud by ''the eternal, In the words
Of Andrew Jackson, let the world be filled
only with the class Of mon 10 which Dr..
Billings belongs, aud the word fraud would
be stricken from the vocabularlcs OF na-
tons as useless. Ills calumniatOrs arc the
people who give strength 10 the word. aud
Il Is his kocnncss at unearihing and his