Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-14

cause of the disease. The bacillus TO which DIR.
Geddings introduced The STAR reporter was
captured in this way.
small portion of the sputun, q mere Drop
is placed on glass microscope slide and inn
prisoned by means OF q minute disc OF glass
placed over 1t and fastened down. The slide Is
then placed under the object glass Of very
powerful microscope and carefully examined to
detect the presence of those peculiar ladder
shaped forms that are instantly spotted by the
scientific eve of the investigator the tubercle
bacilli that are causing such havoc in the ten
der lungs of the patients
THE BACILLUS AND HOW IT WORKS
Science has studied long and diligently over
the question of just how the bacillus works in
the lung and what are its true effects, since
when one can find out how a certain damage is
done there is a great gain made in the struggle
to learn how to prevent that damage. 1t is a
case of reasoning from cause to effect and then
to remedy. There Is q good deal Of popular
misaPprehension on the part of the unscientific
public as to just what the tubercle bacillus is
and what it does. As DR.. Geddings explains,
there are folks who have the idea that it is
hairy ster-microscopically monster, of
course-with claws and hooks and teeth and
things that tear the flesh and cause trouble in
that way. The popular apprehension is that
these beasts of prey fly through the air, dam
gerous three-fold because unseen, and take the
first opportunity to pour down ones throat
and into ones lungs, there to nestle and twist
of the misguided public until consumption
comes a mere matter of Inflammation and
irritation.
AS a matter Of fact, it has been discovered,
after long and patient search, that the bacillus
is not an animal at all, but is merely one of the
lowest forms of vegetable life, with period of
existence ranging from a fe hours to about
three days Thus it will be seen that the live
bacillus after it gets into the lungs, does not
take up permanent residence there, but dies
after a very short tenancy, leaving poison
Gus heritage a deposit which has been dignifed
by the mysterious name of 'ptomaine." pro-
nounced Just as though the ingenious word
maker had forgotten that there was such
letter as ''p" in the alphabet. The ptomaine is
poison, acting Upon the tissue of tho lung
both in an irritating and clogging way. 1t
causes Inflammation and decay and contagion by
proximity, and finally the infection of the en-
tire body of the lun g, aided by the fresh ar
rivals of bacilli from the outside. and by their
self-duplicstion from within.
fHE DECAY OF THE LUNG.
In short the bacillus forms a dissolving pus
within the lung that attacks the tissues of the
cells and finally destroys them, and thus gradu-
ally deprives the lung Of its powers. The resi-
due that comes from this decaying process is
the sputum that is examined under the glass
for the sign boards Of the disease.
layman looking through a microscope at q
drop of sputum would be led to think that it
was just swarming with bacili. Indeed he
would be inclined to think that it was a wonder
that man could live with such a menagerie
within him, but this would not be fair to the
bacilli. They do not monopoliZe SO much space
in the lungs as all that. 1t frequently happens
that there is but one Of them ON a single slide,
and that one is often half hidden. The spots
and objects that the layman takes to be bacilli
are but little bits Of foreign matter, mucus and
possible membrane that come up with the
sputum and hang around the bacilli to partially
their presence. Here is where the eye
of the scientist comes into play. 1t peers
among the scores of bits of things and finally
detects the true bacillus, and then it has evil
dence Of the presence Of disease that is unmis-
taxable.
The progress Of case that is aided by the in
jections of the lymph is marked by gradual
of bacill from the sputum, and
finally, as in the case of a cured patient in
their total absence.
WHAT THE LYMPH rs.
The lymph is a composition of some sort in
which the ptomaines of tubercule bacilli are
used, and so the disease is fought by its own
germs. There has been no satisfactory theory
wor ked out as to just how the lymph works in
arresting the progress Of the disease, but i. is
certain that in some way, and in varying de-
grees, it so acts upon the active ptomaines in |
its transformed state and reduces their poison
ing power and checks the growth of their fol- |
lowers in tho lung. The curative powers of
the remedy are accepted with some doubt by
various authorities, but a great many have
come to believe that it is of avail in many
cases and of no avail in others that are too far
advanced or are in just peculiar stage where
the patient is not strong enough to stand a
dose sufficiently large 20 be of benefit.
1t has been demonstrated beyond q reason
able doub: that the lymph will cure lupus.
which Is a tubercule, cancerous disease of the
skin that affects but the surface, but which is
mol in and oil ov-$-
able. In the case of lupus at the hospital there
has been the best of success. The growth |
affects the nose and was spreading. so that in |
time it would have taken hold of the tissues of
the entire face and killed the victim. 1t is not
only checked in its growth. but it is healing |
rapidly and the flesh is returning to its normal
condition. OF course when the disease is fully |
eradicated from the locality there will be an |
absence of flesh that will be somewhat disfgur |
ing, but this can be remedied by the operation
of grating, SO that. if is taken and skill
exercised, the patient will ultimately have as
good, or almost as good. a nose as ever.
The reason why lupus succumbs more read
lily to the influence of the lymph than the other
disease is that it is more concentrated and is on
the surface, SO that the seat of trouble is
reached without difficulty. The remedy goes
at once to the effected parts instead of having
to circulate through the system in the blood
and thus reach its destination after the fashion
Of a specific. When the injection is made in this
PasAcAb EoSS VIC hCSA e"elAS up W u
ing extent and becomes very much inflamed,
but this effect soon wears off and the member
returns to its first condition. The skin is COW
ering over the abcess and the flesh is granulat-
ing, as the doctors say, and in all ways there
Is the best of indications that the gentleman
who possesses this unfortunate, though scien-
titcally interesting nose, who comes from
somewhere in the west, will be discharged be-
fore long with a certificate of cure.
THE FIRST REPORT.
Regular reports have been received by Sur
geon General Hamilton from DIR. Geddings
each week and printed in the abstract that is
issued each Saturday from the marine hospital
bureau to show the progress of the expert
ments. The first report is dated January %
and shows, among other facts, the following:
Seven cases were selected for the treatment
six males and one female OF these cases five
are to be classed as tubercle OF lung, one as
tubercle of larynx and one tubercle Of lung
and larynx. All are in the first stage of the
disease (stage of consolidation), no patient
having been submitted to the treatment who
presented physical signs Of softening (forma-
ton of cavities).
The duration Of these cases varies from four
months to two years, their ages from eighteen
to hfty-one years.
In all cases the presence Of the bacillus tuber-
culosis was established by miscroscopical ex-
animation Of the sputum, the method of STAIN
ing employed being that of Weiss (see New
York Medical Journal, January II, 1891, y and
specimens from each case were preserved for
Interchangeable representation. In each
the uatlpnt nal he of ,,u