Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-07


| of the new doctrines quickly impressed a
large number of methodic investigators and
| though it wo,lld not be correct to say that
| no opposition was encountered, 1t is gener-
ally conceded that hardly any other revolu-
tionary theory has met with so ready and
general an acceptance.
AT first many physicians opposed the new
doctrines. denying the existence of microbes,
and subsequently. when they saw that this
| argument was absurd, maintaining that
they were not the cause Of disease but were
| developed through disease in the bodies OF
| human beings or animals. The fallacy of
this argument was made apparent by expert
ments which demonstrated that the pure
culture of the same microbe always brought
about the same disease, and, this fact being
indisputably proved, the ranks Of those OPP
posed to the parasitic theories became lament
ably thinned.
Certain bigots, unwilling to admit that
they were vanquished, invented then that
specious argument, according to which 1t is
not the microbe which causes disease, but
rather its secretions, which act upon the
organism and give rise to the symptoms
which we study. An argument of this sort,
however, was equivalent to an admission of
defeat. To-day there remain only few un-
| important reactionaries, who, refusing to
give credence to established facts, find it
easier to blindly deny than to zealously
strive to comprehend the new ideas. This
opposition is futile and will soon be for
gotten.
A GREAT REVOLUTION.
To-day all serious scientific investigators
agree that living germ exists wherever
there is contagion, and thus have been dis
covered the microbes of typhoid fever,
smallpox, measles, pneumonia and various
other diseases, and thus, as said before,
has the study OF the causes OF diseases been
completely modified. Anatomists discovered
in tissues the very microbes to which their
attention has been directed, and the relation
of cause and effect being thus established the
anatomy of diseases took an entirely new di-
rection.
Seeing that the germs of contagious and
epidemic diseases, such as cholera, yellow
lever, typhoid fever, smallpox and other
maladies, develop and have their home in
badly drained towns and other unhealthy
quarters, boards of health promptly ordered
| prophylactic measures hitherto rather
neglected, and saw that they were applied
to streets, sewers and water supplies in hos
pitals and houses. As natural result the
practice of public and private hygiene at
tanned in a few years surprising develop
ment. 1t only remains for ME now to treat
briefly of the principal changes which
therapeutics, or the treatment of diseases,
has undergone, and to say what hopes, based
on the new discoveries, we SHOULD have for
the future.
THE PRINCIPLE OF VACCINATION.
During recent years the march of progress
in this direction has been strikingly rapid.
First, Pasteur pointed out how the virus
that is to say, the contagious germs-could
be attenuated by exposing the hen cholera
cultures to the air and also proved that a
small portion of these cultures would no
longer kill animals, though similar injec-
tion had produced a fatal effect some weeks
previously. The inoculation, however, had
not been without result. The animal had
suffered and had experienced the mild symp-
toms of mortal disease, and the result showed
that the mitigated attack was a safeguard
against the inoculation of the virulent MI
crobes, which had caused the death OF the
animals into whom the attenuated culture
had not been injected. Experimental vac
cInation was discovered. Its practical ap-
plication was soon made on grand scale
By an analogous process Pasteur attenuated
the virus of the anthrox.
By this disease cattle valued at several
million francs had been annually carried off
In France. Since the Introduction of anti
carbonic vaccination after Pasteur's method.
however, the loss of cattle has been reduced
to a minimum. Other experiments, less
brilliant, were made with not less success as.
for example, In cases of hog cholera and
contagious pleuro-pneumonia among cattle.
Finally, after several years of continuous
work and of experiments conducted with
sagacity which does honor to the human
race, Pasteur added to his other great
achievements by discovering a means by
which human beings can be preserved from
diseases which have hitherto been considered
fatal. By means of inoculations of virus.
the strength of which was successfully in.
creased, he showed how it was possible to
prevent the development of madness after
bite.
THE HYDRoPHoBIA CURE.
Clearly as the value Of Pasteur's method
has been demonstrated by experiments and
the testimony of inoculated persons. it
nevertheless encountered a host OF opponents
so natural it is Tor man to repulse ut first
every new truth which runs counter to their
cherished opinions. To-day, however. yery
few scientists worthy of the name are oben
disbelievers in this great new discovery.
And surely this is not surprising, consider
log how successfully patients have been
treated after Passeur's method.
Some time ago in the suburbs of Bucha.
rest man wolf bit Is persons and 33 domes.
tic animals-horses, dogs, cows and pigs.
Eleven Of the persons bitten were treated In
time and are to-day in perfect health. OF