Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-10
NEW WAVES OF DEATH
Nav Break Out in the Future From
the Dark Depths of Africa.
ALL BACTERIA NOT YET KNOWN.
Prospect Of an Invasion by the Germs of
Cholera Next Summer.
SCIENCE OF STRANGE BLOOD SPOTS

ment psychologists here say that diseases
as yet unheard OF, as dreadful as Asiatic
cholera, may in future centuries ravage the
world. All the microbes that are harmful
to human beings have not been discovered,
and there is no telling when or where a
new species may start in to do deadly
work. Take almost any one of the fatal
complaints caused by bacteria and the
germs can be traced to some particular re-
gion of the earth where they have their nat
ural origin.
For example, the cholera has its habitat
in the delta of the Ganges, from which it is
only spread by people who carry it. There
may be districts in Africa or elsewhere, to
which strange or morbifc micro-organlsms
are native, aud whence the latter may be
scattered some day, distributing fresh and
horrible msladies among mankind. The
Plague or "Black Death" of the middle
ages-so-called because those who died OF it
turned blacks now confined to few To-
calities in the East Perhaps it may get
loose again.
Germs Thrive in Particular Climates.
Microbes that are harmless in certain
parts of the world sometimes become dan
gerous when transported to other localities.
Germs of Texas fever, brought by healthy
cattle across what is known as the Texas
Fever Line, cause frightful epidemics
among cattle north of that line, though the
beasts which have fetched them remain un-
affected. Some bacteria which live in the
lntestines OF healthy human beings will
kill guinea pigs inoculated with them. In
the mouths of most persons are microbes
which similarly prove fatal to rabbits
within "a hours They are the germs of
pneumonia, which are commonly to be
found in the saliva, awaiting imprudent ex-
posure on the part of the individual to
create inflammation favorable to their OBJ
tanning lodgment in the lungs.
People congratulate themselves that bac-
terra are so small as to be invisible. They
cannot be seen with the naked eye, singly.
But take the most common of all such
microbes, which is found everywhere
namely, the bacteria of impure water. 1t
is not injurious to health, since there is
no potable water in which it is not found
in greater or less quantities. Draw a glass
of water from any lancet or well and leave
it for few days on a table or mantel-shelf
uncovered.
What Is in a Glass of Water.
Soon you will observe thin coating on
the surface, which looks like deposit of
fine dust This dust consists of myriads of
bacteria Place drop of the water under
a powerful microscope and surprising
spectacle is revealed. The whole field of
view is in motion. Hundreds of microbes,
Ill
ming in everv direction with movements
like those of eels or snakes. Some are de-
tached, others united in pairs and others
vet are in chains. These are bacteria of
putrefaction. The wrinkled membrane
found on the surface of stale meat-juice
and putrefying liquids is composed of an
aggregation of colonies of bacteria.
Several kinds of microbes make pigments
Of these the most remarkable is the micro
cocus prodigiosus miraculous microbe"
In 1919 peasant near Padua was terrified
by bloodstsins which he found scattered
ever dish of ''polenta"-a preparation of
corn and nlilk-that had been shut up in a
cupboard over night. The next day similar
bloody patches appeared on bread, meat
and other articles of food in the same cup
board. The phenomenon was regarded as a
miracle and a warning from heaven, but q
learned man looked into the matter and
discovered that it was caused by certain
bacteria, which produce red pigment by
feeding on the substances they attack. In
1S43 the military baaehouses of Paris were
assailed by remarkable prevalence of this
microbe.
Blood Spots Grown in the Dark.
Under the microscope the curious micro
cocci have the appearance of spherical wells
filled with a reddish liquid. When they
are placed on meat n bread they assume a
brilliant blood tint, their multiplying colo
nies strikingly resembling patches of blood
They only develop in the dark. 1t is not
surprising that such a phenomenon, rare
and incomprehensible, should have inspired
superstitious fears in times when nothing
was known of the invisible world of bacteria
History records numberIess sacrifices made
on account of the blood wonder" On sew
eral occasions it appeared on the consecrated
waters used by the church, and was believed
to represent the body of Christ Ignorant
priests declared this marvel of the ''Bleed-
ing Host" as it was called, to be miracle
vouchsafed by the Deity, and multitudes
worshiped the work of few accidental
microbes.
In lar Northern latitudes the snow is
sometimes tinged the color of blood by a
similar micrococcus. Occasionally patches
of bright green snow are found adjacent to
the red snow. Both pigments are formed
green to red, or vice versa readily.
The Microbe That Causes Badness
The green scum on reservoirs and stag
nant ponds, produced by bacteria, often
turns bright red in a night. Another
species makes a yellow pigment on bread
and eggs. Still another is grass-green: vet
another a beautiful azure blue; again an
other an exquisite lilac. All these are dis
covered on foods. Bread sometimes ex-
hibits dark green or orange patches 1t is
dangerous to eat in that condition. The
orange spots are particularly apt to appear
on bread provided for armies, which is kept
for a considerable time before being dis
tributed. Human hair is attacked by
microbe which causes one form OF badness,
getting into the hollow tubes of the hairs.
multiplying, and sspping their vitality.
Decay of the teeth is produced chiefly bv
one species of bacteria, which attack the
dentine where there is q hole in the
enamel
Bacteriology, like astronomy, owes many
of its most important discoveries to
photography. Photo-micrographs, present.
ing images of these minute organisms en-
larged by hundreds of diameters, reveal
details of their structure which could not
be perceived by the eye through the micro
scope. In this way it has been ascertained
that bacteria move in liquids by means of
hair-like appendages called "cilia," which
they use as oars to propel themselves with.
Navertheless thew are nothing hut lit+la