The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-01-13
Seeking the old age Germ.

An Italian bacterlologist has to some
extent startled his professional brethren
with q proposition which he defends with
warmth and Skin. 1t is to the effect
that old age is due to "a specific bacillus,
and that that bacillus may be discovered
and its eVu offices counteracted. In SIM
pie terms, the Italian asserts that per-
petual manhood. If not perpetual youth, is
a reasonable end to be aimed at 10y
scientists. He shows-and his profess
sional brethren agree with h.m-that the
tissue changes of advanced life may be
traced indirectly to germs. In the body
there are produced ptomaines, or posons.
and these poisons set up various degen-
erative processes in the vital orgaus-the
liver, the kidneys, the blood, etc. The
ptomalnes are generated by bacilh. The
professor thinks that science should be
able to run through the series Of causes
and effects until the specific germ of old
age is found and death with.
His theory is so far-reach!ng and ap-
parenty impossible that it finds few adj
herents. Doctors say that he is a bac-
terlomaniac; that much learning has
made him mad" Nevertheless, there is
a fascination about his teaching that holds
the minds of his critics, even while they
condemn his conclusions.
! \ archaeological discovery, not quits
SO sensational as the Italians theory, has
been made in this country. 1t is that APP
pendicitis, the fashionable complaint" is
not always caused by a seed or some hard
/ substance becoming lodged in the vermi-
/ form appendix. but is really a germ dis
/ ease. The specific germ has not yet been
I discovered, but it is asserted positively
/ that it is almost in sight. The doctors
are on the trail of 1t. This information
win be appreciated by people who have
/ denied themselves grapes, cherries. rasp-
berries, etc, for fear OF swallowing a
seed and giving the little worm Ike ap-
pendix an opportunity to get in its deadly
revenge.
In paying a tribute TO the memory of
the late Senator Colquitt of this state.
in the Senate the other day. Senator
Hin said, in part: In a recent inter
party contest in Georgia he especially
manifested his preference and friendship
for me, being prominent in the thickest
of the fight. Neither counting the chances
of victory nor the risks of defeat but
freely exercising that right which every
American citizen possesses of expressing
and advocating his choice for public posi-
ton. he did the best he could, and lost,
and then accepted defeat without a muir
muir. and patiently endured with his
friends in Georgia and elsewhere the po-
lucal ostracism which unfortunately fol
lowed" Precisely what Senator Hin was
driving at cannot be guessed. If Sena-
tor Colquitt was ever ostracised or other
wise rebuked for his support of HIN. that
fact is unknown in this part Of the coun-
try.
A London dispatch says younger son
of Jay Gould is trying to lease a theater
in that city in which burlesque plays
viii be produced. 1t win Ice remembered
that Mr. Howard Gould has for some
time been credited with a desire to marry
d very charming young burlesque actress.
Maybe Howard Gould is the man after
the theater as well as the theatrical wife.
Bishop Duncan might have saved the
Florida preachers, in conference assem-
bled. the humiliation of being told not to
spit on the now carpet by having caused
to be hung about the han copies of that
old railroad accommodation train sign,
reading: persons who expect to rate as
gentlemen viii not expectorate ON the
/ floor"