Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-25
BATTLE OF LIFE AND DEATH.
Tho Garrison of the Human Body-A
CeaseIess Struggle Going On.

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CeaseIess Struggle Going On.
New York SUM-
Among the topics discussed by Prince
Krapotkin in an article on recent science
contributed to the Nfpeteenth Century, there
is one of extraordinary interest, namely, the
fncessant conflict going on between the
micro-organisms that invade and those
which defend tine living body. or all the
discoveries made Of late years by biologists
none is more striking than the demonstra-
tion that almost all infectious diseases may
be traced to foreign bacilli, whose intrusion
is resisted by militia Of resident micro.
organisms known under the general name
of leucocytes, the function of which is to
attack, swallow, digest, neutralize, or expel
the alien and noxious microbes. The out
come of this ceaseless struggle within the
body Is on the one hand health and life, and
on the other disease and dissolution.
SO far, we know more about our assailants
than our defenders. BacteTology, the
branch of science which deals with the germ
theory of disease, may be said to have been
founded about the end of the f1fties by Pas
tours researches into the fermentation OF
beer and wine. and Vfrchow's in
yestigations into cellular pathology:
Since then. although some alleged
discoveries have been confuted, many
have been verified, and we absolutely know
great number of micro-organisms which
are capable under certain circumstances of
producing certain specific malndies. For
example, cholera, typhoid fever and gastric
affections generally, malaria and in
tiuenza; tuberculosis, leprosy, and cancer;
rheumatism, smallpox, rabies and tetanus
have been traced to separate microscopical
beings. The photograph OF each, separate
modes of life and very often its methods Of
reproduction have been carefully studied
both in the animal body and in artificial cul-
lures; subj jected also to minute scrutiny have
when introduced into the bodies of various
animals In word, the germ origin of In
fectious diseases can no longer be described
as a theory; 1t is a fact.
Relatively backward is our knowledge Of
the means of combating Infectious micro
organisms. But what is 1t that permits
healthy body to resist invasion by morbid
Is 1t that renders them highly no1ious in
some cases. and quite inoffensive in some
others? The broadcast and most ingenious
ea oS IS Sf he tneoy ebora shss fe sea
In 1888 by Ellie Menohikoff, which
represents an extension of the .leading
principles Of the struggle for life to the
microscopic constituents OF the animal
body. There exist in the body of man and
Of all vertebrates, besides the cells which
constitute the animal tissues, a number Of
free cells, the white corpuscles of blood and
the tissues. Four different varieties of these
free cells, collectively known rs leucocytes,
have been described, the distinctions be-
tween them being chiefly based upon the
shape and the numbers OF their nuclei. 1t
appears that the leucocytes of both the
higher and the lower animals have all the
distinctive features of simple amebe. They
protrude pseudopodia or feelers, and they
move about, and like amGb8 they are en-
dowed to q high degree with the capacity
of tngesting all kinds of small granules
which they ind in their way, including
various smaller micro-organisms. 1t some
cases the Daoili thus ingested are digested,
that is, transformed into a soluble matter,
which Is assimilated by the protoplasm Of
the leucocytes. In other cases the bacteria
are for some time kept alive within the
leucooytes, and if the latter are placed in
conditions unfavorable for themselves but
favorable for the invading microbes, the
invaders develop and are set free. In still
other cases the leucocytes contribute to the
defense of the body by driving the hostile
bacteria out of the organism through the
skin. Transportation is familiar instance
of the last named process. Investigation
has also demonstrated that the efficiency Of
the leucocytes varies greatly in different
members OF the same species of animal, their
vtgor being proportionate to the general
health of the body. If the leucccytes are
vigorous, they prevent the termination of
the spores which they had ingested; but
only 80 long as they are healthy. If an
animal mas been submitted to cold, or has
been narcotized it loses its immunity from
infectious maladies.
Such are the facts, and it seems reasonable
to explain them, as does Menchikon, on the
theory that the leucocytes are the defensive
agencies against infectious disease with
which animal bodies have been endowed by
nature. The necessities of the struggle for
existence have evolved in living organisms
the capacity of selfprotection by dispatch
ing armies Of leucocytes to the spots at
tacked by noxious microbes. The struggle,
as we have said, may end either in the rout
of the leucocytes, in which case disease en-
sues, or in tho repulse of the microbes,
which is followed by recovery. Or, again,
the outcome may be drawn battle, which
the state OF things in various
chronic diseases