Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-17
PROF. vAuGHN's DISCOVERY.
He Claims 20 Have Found the Germ
Of Two Dread Dieoassa

q Two Dread Diseassa
From the YAiisdeipAis Record.
Medical circles n this city ware threwn intc
considerable elation Over the news from The
working laboratory Of Prof Victor c. Vaughn
OF The Uaivsrsiv Of Aiehigas, at Am Arbes.
| that he had extracted and studied in his test
tube the poison that assails humanity in chol-
era infantum and diphtheria. 1t was this same
noted man that found the poison in milk,
cheese and milk products, which he named
tyrotoxieon.
Dr.. Vaughn alleges that these diseases are
caused By albuminous poisons which he has
discovered. He hopes to discover An antidote,
which may be introduced into tho system as
vaccine is in smallpox cases, and similarly for
thy the system against cholera and diphtheria.
The poison Is generated by germs in the ALI
msntary canal just a. fermentation il generated
when yeast 10 put In dough. Heat Is necessary
for the fermentation, and that is why the dis
eases are moro prevsiens in hot weather than
in cold
DR.. Vaughn took the germs with which he
experimonted from the bodies of persons who
died OF the diseases. and by feeding them on
sterilized meat he succeeded in producing the
genuine poison Ia large quantities. A number
Of Philadelphia doctors spoke fsvorably of the
discovery.
DIR. William II. Ford, president of the board
OF health, said yesterday: DIR. Vaughn's dis
covery is theory. It will be tested by other
experts before 1t will be accepted. The fact
that such poisons exist in the alimentary canal
Of persons suffering with the disease il not
new. The only new thing is that DIR. Vaughn
has found this poison and separated it from the
germ which produced it. The tendency of medi-
cal thought Is to ascribe cholera infantum to
poisonous germs. Some doctors give antisep-
tics to kill the germ, but this treatment is
usually accompanied with the death Of the
patient II an antidote for the poison can be
discovered. that H. something that will not
harm the patient and will destroy the poison,
then DR.. Vaughn will have conferred d lasting
boon upon humanity. But II is not an easy
thing TO do, for what will kill q germ or poison
in test tube will not do it always in the body,
for 1t hasn't the same opportunity to act"
Prof. Roberts Bartholow Of the Jefferson
Medical College was very outspoken in his
praise Of DR.. Vaughn and his latest discovery.
He said: This is altogether new; We never
knew anything about IL before. Although the
existence OF the germ was known. DIR. Vaughn
has just found the poison which produces
typhoid fever and cholera infantuu. II IL a.
though men had known what yeast was, and
had seen bread baked by the yeast process, but
had never seen the fermentation or known how
the Yeast acted. This discovery will have great
effect upon medical science and practice, aud
it will undoubtedly be the means OF saving
thousands Of human lives every year. regard
IL az one Of the most important gifts TO the
world since Jenner discovered the use of vacci-
nation TO prevent smallpox. / don't think he
will be long in finding an antidots for the
poison which he has discovered. and then these
fsArfully devastating summer weeks will be
robbed Of their terror. Typhoid fever and
cholera infantum can then be prevented by in
oculstion The germs will get in the body just
as they do now, but the poison generated by
them will leave no effect upon the system"
DIR. Joseph Hearn was much interested in the
subject and talked very freely. III DR.. Vaughn
can find an sntidote for the poison caused by
the germs" he said, ''mahy lives will be spared.
We now know Of nothing that will kill the germ
In the body OF persons having typhoid fever
and cholera infantum without also killing the
patient. But it will be an easier matter TO
overcome the poison
Said another gentleman, probably the abest
bacteriologist in Pennsylvania and q physician
who is every day making practical tests with
germs, their growth and products, but who de-
sired his name withheld: IAN Italian ply stefan
has been working on the same line ~ DR..
Vaughn and trying to discover the same thing.
The American has come out ahead. 1t il much
harder TO kill germ than q poison. For a long
time it was supposed that the growth Of germs
caused death, but now we know that the poison
which is the outgrowth OF the germ IL the fatal
thing think 1t is slightly improbable that DIR.
Vaughn can discover an antidote for the poi
SON"