Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-03-28
The Germ Theory.

The germ theory of disease has be-
come the usual method of accounting
for the ills that humanity is heir to.
Nearly every disease is supposed to be
caused by a peculiar germ that preys
upon the tissues affected. Consump-
ton, pneumonia, yellow fever, typhoid
fever, la grippe, are all supposed to
be produced by special germs, easily
distinguished from each other, when
placed under the microscope. That
certain diseases are produced by spec
ial germs seems very probable; but
there is question whether the bacte-
ria may not in some cases be the re-
suit of the disease. For instance, con-
sumption is supposed to be produced
by bacteria of we'll defined form and
characteristics, feeding upon the It's
sues of the lungs. because these bacte-
ria are always present in the tissues
affected in cases of consumption. May
they not be caused by the disease, in
stead of causing it?
To illustrate: when we ring a tree,
for time there is no parasitic growth
upon its wood, but as its vitality GIBBS
parasites of various kinds find Judgment
and thrive upon the material from
which life is departing. You can see
that tho sifa l., tho nf
obstruction of the true, but its disin-
tegration has afforded food to the
MOSES and lichens which feed upon it.
May not something similar happen in
consumption and various other dis
eases? The enfeebled condition of
the tissues may simply offer the prop
err food to the germs with which the
air is filed, and afford them an OPP
portunity to thrive. But why only one
kind of bacteria should prey upon the
lung in pneumonia, and another kind
in consum ption, Is matter the writer
cannot explain, any more than he can
tell why one kind of moss will attach
itself to one oak tree, and different
kind to another oak tree.
The air seems to be the great store
house of germs and bacteria of all
kinds. A quantity of chemically pure
water may be exposed to the air for a
few moments and then sealed up, yet
it will exhibit germs that multiply till
the whole of it becomes foul and stag
nant. 1t is possible that diseases like
small pox, measles, and yellow fever.
are due the aggressive action of pc
culiar germ in each case.
Science has yet to determine in what
cases bacteria are the active principle
of disease, and in what cases they are
parasites feeding upon the decaying
tissue that disease has left.
In dlptheria, the germ may be prop
agated artifcially and child or other
animal inoculated with 1t, the inocula-
ton being always followed by symp-
toms of the disease. This would seem
to argue that the active principle of
diptheria is germ capable of attack
my healthy tissue, and can be destroy
ed in the system as we destroy obnox-
ious vermin about the house. Certain
kinds of germs invariably attack GER
tain organs OF the body. seemingly find
ing their proper nutriment in them.
The reason being. perhaps, that those
organs that perform a peculiar func-
ton, as preparing special secretion
for use in the body, either cast away
certain material, or have certain ele-
ments peculiar to their tissues that af-
ford proper food for special germ
that it can find in no other part of the
body. Medical science, of late years,
has made gigantic strides, but it still
has to deal with many unsolved prob
lamS ONE OF THE TTSIEaRNED