The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-11-28
THE DEADLY BACTERIA.

4
Diseases In the Human systsm.
II has been learned within the past
few years that several OF the most
serious diseases known to man are
caused by particular species OF bacteria,
says 4. Mitchell Prudden In Harper's.
Some diseases are called infectious
Among those forms which thus origin
ate are tuberculosis, Asiatic cholera,
crysipelas. and some forms OF blood
poisoning. tetanus or lockjaw, and
some forms Of pneumonia. typhoid
fever, and diphtheria. We know the
germs which are concerned in the
causation Of these diseases. and can
grow them In tubes In the laboratory,
and work out their life history.
Malaria, It has been pretty well
established. Is due TO a minute organ
ism which belongs not among the
plants. but low down In the animal
series. In the class known ~ protozoa.
and It may be that some or all OF the
last group aforementioned may be
caused bv si'e..,.a.t 6feanlsnas. waiiooh, hs
yen We can not cultivate In the labor
atory or even bring within our vision
with the microscope.
Consumption, or tuberculosis. Is
largely spread by the specific bacteria
In the sputum thrown OF by affected
persons. which Is allowed to dry and
become disseminated in the floating
dust. Typhoid fever Is communicated
by the germs discharged from the
bodies of those i'll of this disease,
which. In one way or another, but
largely In polluted water and food, get
into the digestive tract Of well persons.
Diphtheria may be communicated In
like manner by the germs in the men,
branes or fluids from the mouth OF the
stricken ones. and may linger long.
wholly dry. In garments and household
furniture and rooms.
The bacterium causing tetanus. or
lockjaw, Is not often conveyed from
one person to another. but is excep-
tional in having its usual lurking place
In the soil Of certain regions.
Now, how do these particular species
OF germs cause these special forms Of
diseasep We have already seen that
one OF the marked life features OF bac-
terra is that when they assimilate nour-
ishment and grow they set free various
forms Of chemical substances. When
putrefaction occurs In bit of meat, for
example. certain bad-smelling guses.
as well as host of other substances.
set free BY the bacteria which are feed
ing on the meat. This causes its putre-
faction. Each species acts In its own
peculiar fashion in tho requirement OF
its food and sets free its own peculiar
chemical substances.
Now. tho Same thing happens when.
bacteria. in one way or another, get
into the bodies Of men or animals and
grow there. But in the large proper
ton OF cases the bacteria which we
take Into our bodies in vast numbers
with the greatest varieties Of uncooked
foods and with water and milk, pro-
duce. II they grow at all, chemical
substances which do no manner Of
harm. II Is indeed not at all improb-
able that some bacteria which are con-
stantly present In the digestive canal
form, under ordinary circumstances.
materials which aid In the process of
digestion.
1t has, however. como about In the
lapse Of ages that very few. an In
finitOly small proportion. OF all the
bacteria which ire about us produce
chemical substances in the body, which.
in one way or another. act as violent
poisons. These substances. produced
by bacteria. are called ptomaines, and
here. at last our plummet seems to be
striking bottom. Il Is the ptomaines,
or peculiar vegetable poisons pro-
duced by these germs, which usually
do the damage. Sometimes these
ptomaines are produced In some
special part of the body where the
bacteria grow. and gaining access to
body fluids, are carried all over the
organism. srducing in the most vulner-
able parts those changes which are
characteristic OF the disease and which
give rise to what we call its symptoms.
This seems to DO the case In diphtheria
and typhoid fevor. in which tho bac-
terra are confined. In the former usual
ly 70 the mouth, and throat and air
passages. and In the latter to tho In
testinaI canal. But the soluble
ltomaines are carried everywhere,
s~orLt,v havnc