The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-28

winch nave ceased to perform their
functions, we might regard them as
this Is not so, for nearly all the bodily
Ills to which humanity is subject are
owing to the inroads Of our insid1ous
microscopic foes. To avert their at
tacks is seemingly impossible. We mny
inhale them in the air we breathe, In
troduce 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 ana
covers of popular books in much fire.
quented libraries and from hundred
either sources which may convey in
lection.
The late Prof. Tyndall demonstrated
that, as far as the atmosphere itself
is concerned, 1T may be regarded as
"stir-about" Of minute particles, some
OF which are living and others inor-
ganic. They are revealed by the
microscope or may be seen in the path
of sunbeam streaming through the
chink of shutter into dari1ened
room. Pasteur supplied the missing
link In the evidence regarding the
nature of those living particles con-
tained in fluids or borne by the atmos-
phere. When sowed into fitting solu-
lions and duly watched thereafter I'M
der the microscope, those animated
atoms were seen to develop into adult
forms of animalculeS and lower plant
life.
DR.. Pasteur's labors in the domain Of
bacteriology are we'll known. Follow
ing the example Of DR. Jenner, who,
however, knew nothing of the germ
theory Of disease or the bacillus of
smallpox, he attempted to prevent SUBJ
seQuent and dangerous forms Of con-
tagion by producing q mild type of the
disease against which he wished to for
tify the system. The germs of the par
ticular disorder, after passing through
various processes Of incubation and
thereby deprived Of much of their Viru-
1ence, were introduced into the system
of the patient, unfortunately sometimes
with very dangerous results. Though
DR.. Pasteur's method is probably a
step in the right direction and has been
adopted 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
becteriologist in pursuing his investi-
cations 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 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 are always
ON the alert to prevent surprises by the
minute foes that threaten the life OIL
the organism.
He knows now that in assisting nat
ure to effect a cure he has a WatchfuI,
indefatigable host of fellow workers
to help him in his beneficent 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 cura-
tive agencies is becoming weaker. The
number Of specifics, so called, is very
few. Probably 95 per cent of the drugs
in the pharmacopoeia could be dispens-
ed with wholly and with positive bene
fit to suffering humanity.
A remarkable fact in connection with
those lower forms Of life, some of
which breed disease, is the impunity
with which they can bear changes of
temperature that would prove destruc-
tive to creatures more highly organiZ-
ed. DR.. Pruden, of New York q we'll
known bacteriologist, has demonstrate
ed 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 a mild heat temperature will de-
stroy their vitality. The wheel animal
cules of our ponds and bitches, which
possess a nervous system and complex
structure, may be dried artificially and
kept for months in a mummified con-
dition and yet be revived on the ap-
plieation of moisture. The spores of
monads retain their vitality after be-
ing subjected to a temperature Of 300
degrees F., and doubtless some of the
microbes that produce disease would
display the same salamandrine indif-
ference to excessive degrees of heat If
subjected to a similar test.
DR.. A. B. Deynard.