New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-22
GERMS AND DISEASE.
HINTS HOW TO AVOID THEM.
TIE CAUSE OF INFECTION IN plr"i '''"'''
CHOLERA, PNEUMONIA, ICBfhOCAo
AND OTHER AILMENTS.

| been fruitful subject for CONJECTURE INV '"
extraordinary theories have been advanced anu inv
idea that disease might be due to minnie Hn'"S
| ,d,os 4 mi , new one. Until recent years, now
ovcr all thcoric, In this direction were cruu' anu
,~t.hou, scientific basis Bacteria had long Dec"
/ known but their true relation TO disease was "''
,rovcd by the researches OF man Sun H>'H3
| pastcur OF Paris. Ills investigations upon ihe SUI
| iect OF spontaneous generation, MADE "'o". NM
vcors oco opened the way to a long ana briiil'h'
| scrios of discoveries. II proved that no pure
t,c,,op or fermentation occurs without the ac'loh "i
rerms These researches were supplemented pN
those Of Professor Tyndal upon living germs !" '''
air. Onr first positive knowledge OF the achoh VI
,crms I'm disease was obtained by PaSt"ur "H"r ions
studv Of a fatal disease Of the SILK worm "hch Nv
found 10 be Of microlic origin. Ills was ioio"'" '
to discovery OF germ in certain diseases OF iowIN'
s,vinc and cattle The diseases OF animals were NV
er., "a receive This attention. because OF the ease
With which experiments may be performed ana IN"
freedom with which inoculations may De mau'' INV
or, eot discovery affecting directly the human race
roe that NJ tbe germ OF tuberculosis. made by Koch
~ RcrIIn and announced in March. 1882 For sew
cr,; vc,r, c subject OF bacterioogy was in chaotic
state and every discovery was looked upon win dS-
us, hv tho conservative portion Of the medical pro
TO- .ou who world accept statement unilf proven.
GrndunlIv by the most laborious effort. one lahu-
mark after another was established ana Iac' hi''r
fact was proved until to-day no int"Ihg'h p"SS'l""
o,,ops the inheritance OF bacteria In the cauSatlon
If disease portion OF vast field has been sur
veycd but no can tell how much Hes p'E"hu o'
what the future may reveal 1t IS III" object OF this
article briefly to describe that portion oil the ne"
which has been thus far surveyed
BACTERIA
What arc bacteria? They wcrc referred TO many
rcors ago rs worms. and Il Is common br'ei 'ha'
,hcv are minute animals. This Is not the 1ac'.
They belong TO the lowest order OF plant me- Doing
relatives Of the fungi and monlds. They ar" more
coils or spccks OF living matter so minl" 'ia' '''
examination taxes IN" utmost powers OF We "I''"
sconc Tho micromllImctrc. equivalent 10 aho"
10; 600 OF an inch & taken the INIT Of measure
mon. The smallest germs are about one tenth 81
t,is unit I'm diameter. Bacteria multiply either 'N
division or by spores. Ey the first method 'h' t'r'"
whom II reaches a certain age "lonGat'S ana u'
nross,on oppcar, near the centre. This Increase
rntu the orr ,lna germ + divided into Two. SPor'
Is n minute cranuc which form within tic germ ana
hoe IN. powor Of developing into germ similar "a
tho parent rs y socd produce plant. Th"'" spor"'
ar. tc,,cIous of life. and withstand driving ana "N
tremcs Of heat and cold Germs wiieh mwniN Nv
spor,, arc far more dangerous. iher'ior" man ""'
TIA. 4, not For the Study Of most varieties I'm
proved and powerful microscopes ar" required h'''
with delicate and expensive appliances. Even VIII
those most germs must be- stained and properly PR
rorcd before they can De- studied II has been ''ih'
,,o, ,,c oniiln. dvo, have rcmarhall" power "i
coIorlnc bacteria Each species has scl'ciN' power
and Is affected by certain dyes In peculiar manu- "
Thus undor proper treatment each germ assume" ~
evn peculiar appearance. Til. oven NOR" "'l'"
times than its shape and size. aids III - rco'h""'
Tho ability 10 isoatc one species OF germs from every
other species 10 cultivate Il and to study j" Io"'.
and Ne history + one Of IL" greatest tr."nlh' 81
,ic,,, ,c r...arch Tor these results ar" 'li'hF
Indebted 10 tho conus 81 Pphort Koch. Ah germ
roouIre moisture" for th"ir Development WIN 'm'"p''
temperature and palladium. Light ~ rue J. ""'
favorable 10 their gro~t ia. Cola arrests me |'""'
of all micro -oreani.n. bu the lowest degree '''"'
Mo docs no, destroy the vitality Of certain "pr'ieS
Heat. on the other hand f. very potent Fcrmo'u''
All known pathogenic germs are Killed BY heat lar
below the boiling point.
Having learned Z" cultivate germ We "r' pr
pared to study 81 action tn IN" cau'A''h u
II least four steps are necessary u Hh''' " '
, the ussuc or secretion o. an animal suffering from
mo d,,coec II must be- cultivated outside the BODY IN
an artificial medium ali other germs beins cN'ln''u'
rh,, cul,u-c mu, produce the same disease when In
culo.od into the BODY Of a healthy animal Tho same
corn, u,rst then be- found in the body Of tic animal 80
nocnlatcd.
Tn. relation Of these microscopic bodies 10 given
disease being found. the question "n~''' no" az
,ney ,roeuc. this result The bacteria 'hem-'lNs
have Int little effect thcy act chiefly hy III" pr"
dncton OF poisonous principle known ~ p'onHlh'''
many 81 which have been Isolated and studied. hS
g., subtle chemistry they d"compo'" the elements hN
which they are surrounded 10 form new COMPOUND.
some Of these are poisonous ana pr'iuo' we p"'
romona known as disease: by far tic greater number
are harmless. There l. nothing peculiar TN THIS nc"
Every living cell during growth appropriate, certain
lcmcnts for Il. nutrition and cycrc"s certain other
elements and bacterial cells form exception TO this
rule " these products Of eXcreon are harmless !"
the animal body the germ Is benign II they are
poisonous the germ T. known a pathoScnic. The
growth Of many Of tho higher orders OF plants results
In similar chemical change seen In the action 81
Yeast in the process Of bread making and OF brewing
Various mcro-organisms act ferments. one pro
duccs Tactic acid from milk another accc acid from
alcohol puircfaction IS the result Of th" action 81
certain germ, upon albuminons material the products
being Of offensive odOr. some substances. Ike milk
are subject TO several forms OF fermentation. The
pto.nainc is sometimes formed outside the body. rs
when certain germs acting upon milk develop
viuent poison known as tyrotOHcon. This Is TIE
cause Of Ice cream poisoning frequently reported
during the summer months. II results from i'm
proper care OF the MIX from which tn" cream Is
made. symptoms simulate those Of arsenical
poisoning
INFECTION.
II germs are tho cause OF a disease. will every per
son exposed those germs contract the disease
By no means. Germs In their essential qualities
seeds. and seeds require soil for thor growth II
they fall by the waysidc they take no root Upon
stony ground forthwith they spring up. but with"r
away, and among thorns they are chohcd. only upon
good ground will seeds or germs bring forth fruit
As seeds require peculiar soil for their highest do
vclopmcnt. each according 10 It's kind. germs
qulrc peculiar conditions for their growth. IN"
hy slcan recognizes therefore, two Of disease
prcdlsposng and cxcitlngthe soil and the seed. Two
children exposed 10 the germs OF diphtheia one
has a sound, healthy throat and they take
The other has enlarged tonslls and chronic catarrh
with thickencd and spongy mucous membranes and
the germs take root and grow luxuriouSly In
cOngenal soil.
Prcdisposng causes important but often er
tremely obscure and diIioult OF detection. II has
been proved that nnimrls which have not taken 4
disease when noculacd have quickly succumbcd after
n prolonged fas, or when exhausted by excessive
exercise. This lends force TO the common belief that
a coniacoms di.ea,e is more rendIlY CONTRACTED on