The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-28

Pie atmosphere and fluids of all kinds
were charged with germs, or eggs, Of
Tower forms of plant or animal life I'm
der certain conditions, such as that Of
extreme dryness. these germs remained
sterile and unproduetive. Once intro
duced, however, into q medium adapt
ed to their development. the germs, like
seed placed IN a suitable soil, developed
into aduls forms of animalcules.
Similarly il was demonstrated by the
experiments Of Graham and others that
the processes Of putrefaction and decOm-
position have their origin in the same
manner.
# the germs floating in the air and
other fluids, to which nothing is i'm
porvious and penetrating everywhere,
were only to display their powers in
securing the disintegration Of bodies
which have ceased to perform their
functions, we might regard them as
benedcent agencies. Unfortunately this
is not so, for nearly all the bodily ills
to which humanity is subject are owing
to the iuroads Of our insidious, micro
scopic foes. To avert their attacks is
seemingly impossible. We may inhale
them in the air we breathe, introduce
them into our bodies in the water we
drink and the food we eat, may derive
them from paper money and coin, which
have passed through many hands, from
the dirty leaves and covers of popular
books in much frequented libraries and
from a hundred other sources which
may. convey infection.
The late Professor Tyndall demon
strated that. as far as the atmosphere
itself is concerned, it may be regarded
as a "stirabout'' of minute particles,
some of which are living and others in
organic. They are revealed BY the mi
crOscope or may be seen in the path Of a
sunbeam streaming through the ehink
Of a shutter into a darkened room. Pas
teur supplied the missing link in the
evidence regarding the nature of those
living particles contained in fluids or
borne by the atmosphere. When sowed
into fitting solutions and duly watched
thereafter under the microscope, those
animated atoms were seen to develop
into adult forms of animalcules and
lower plant life.
Pasteur's Work.
DR.. Pasteur's Iabors in the domain
Of bacteriology are well known. Fol
lowing the example of DR.. Jenner, who,
however, knew nothing of the germ the
ory of disease or the bacillus Of small
pox, he attempted to prevent subsequent
and dangerous forms of oontagion by
producing a mild type Of the disease
against which ne wished to fortify the
system. The germs of the particular
disorder. after passing through various
processes of incubation and thereby de-
prived Of much of their viruIence, were
introduced into the system Of the pa
tient, unfortunately sometimes with
very dangerous results. Though DR..
I PasteUr's method is probably a step in
the right direction and has been adopt
ed by other eminent physicians, SO far
the results obtained have not been very
satisfactory.
The knowledge recently gained. how
ever, relative to phagocytes and the
functions they perform in the animal
economy will doubtless greatly aid the
bacteriologist in pursuing his investiga-
tions and IN combating diseases. He
knows now what he never knew before
that there is an army of workers and
fighters existing in the human body to
render him efficient aid in his efforts
to prevent or to cure disease and avert
death. These microscopic creatures,
while employed at their normal func-
ton of aiding in carrying on the nutri-
tive processes in the body, ara always on
the alert to prevent surprises by the
minute foes that threaten the life of the
organism. He knows now that in assist
ing nature to effect a cure he has a
watchful, interchangeable host of fellow
workers to help him in his benefcent
design He realizes, too, as never before
that he renders the most efficient aid to
nature when he assists her to effect a
cure without drugs, if possible. Year
after year the belief in drugs as curative
agencies is becoming weaker. The num-
Der of specifics, so called, is very few.
Probably 8 5 per cent of the drugs in the
pharmacoposia could be dispensed with
wholly and with positive benefit to SUIT
fering humanity.
Germ vitality.
A rem arkable fact in connection with
those lower forms of life, some Of which
breed disease, is the impunity with
which they can bear changes of temper
allure that would prove destructive to
creatures more highly organized. DR..
Pruden of New z ork, a well known
bacteriologist. has demonstrated that
the typhoid fever germs may be frozen
in ice all winter and still retain their
vitality. but that frequent alterations
of a lower degree of cold with mild
heat temperature viii destroy their Vi
tality. The wheel animalcules Of our
ponds and ditches which possess a
nervous system and complex structure,
may be dried artificiaIIy and kent for