Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-18
Their Destructive Power Over Germs
Seriously Doubted.
SURGEON GENERAL STERNBERGS VIEWS
Tho Recent Chicago Experiments
Considered and Discussed.
FULL REPORTS AWAITED

Psychologists in this city Gre inclined
to doubt the story which comes from Chi
Cago that experiments conducted by Profs
H. P. Pratt and Hugh Wightman show
that the Roentgeh rays were destructive
of cholera and diphtheria germs. Accord
ing to the press dispatch from Chicago the
two gentlemen named have announced
without reserve. that diphtheria and
typhoid germs are absolutely killed by the
X ray.
THE decision was reached on the 10th
instant in the laboratory" says the dis
patch, when the last of the germs which
had been exposed to the ray failed to show
signs of life under the glass-the deadly
bacilli remaining idle and inactive in the
midst Of the best and most tempting imita-
tion of human tissue"
Prof. RoentSsn on the Subject.
A special to the Philadelphia Press from
Baden Baden, Germany, quotes Professor
Roentgen as follows in regard to thesre-
ported results of the EXP eriments at Chica-
go:
The information, as such, does not as
tonish me. 1 fully expected as much when
l had perfected my invention. Its immedi-
ate benefit TO ~~>ga"y was obvious enough
but thought it ->omised far more / had
sanSuine hopes th>. the bacill of diph.he-
ria and cholera and other dangerous
srowths in the animal body would eventu-
ally and indirectly De des troyed hy the in
fuence of the Y rays.
Your dispatch tells me that iiphtheria
was slain outright in the Chicago expert
ments, while no final and positive verdict
Is as yet given as TO the elfec: on the ba-
ctlli Of cholera, pneumonia, typhoid and the
other plague germs tested. This is aston
ishing and partly disapDoints my snticipa-
ton. consider dipntaeria and cholera The
mcst deadly of plaques, and believe posi-
lively that the bacilIi of the other scourges
would be the least difficult to kill Eut
am am, corndent that eventually the K ray
VIII prove an efectual cure for all such
diseases
surgeon General Sternberg is Seem
A Star reporter called on Surgeon Cen
erai Sternberg Of the army, a distinguish
ed bacteriologst, today for his views on
the alleged discovery
1t Is not impossible" said he that the
Roentgen rays may prove to have GER
tam gernicidal value. 1t is we'll demon
does destroy pathogenic bacteria In IS92
we round that the cholera germ fails to
grow after being exposed to direct sun-
Hght Tor an hour or more. Dr. Koch, tho
Famous German bacteriologist states thar
The tubcrcle bacillus Is DESTROYED nv tho
acuon or direct sunlight in a time VARYING
from few minutes TO several hours d.
pending upon the thickness of the iaycr
%
made upon the typhoid bacillus. found that
all portions of the solar spectrum excent
Lhe RED rays exercised a restraining in
nuehce upon the development Of this ba-
clllus. The electric light gave a similar
result There is also some recent exneri-
mental evidence showing that a strong
electrical current may destroy the vitality
of bacteria. ''
Doubts Their Practicability,
But in practice the germicidal power Of
electricity has not thus far proved to be
available for the treatment of Infections
diseases and 1t is entirely doubtful wheth
er the X rays will be available for the de-
struclion or disease germs in the bodies of
Sternherg.
Ihe report as to the germicidaI mower
o. tfese rays requires confirmation by
EacteriolCgists OF established reputation
Inc published report from Chicago appears
10 me to be premature. The value of the
experiments made cannot be estimated un-
I'll d detailed account of the methods en-
ployeG has been published.
nave recently seen IL! some of the med
icai journals reports of experiments upon
bacteria which do not support the viev
tfat me Roentgen rays have any decided
sermicidal power. and 1t is evident that
we nave not as yet the experimental cyl
dence at hand to justify the very sanruina
authorizations said to have been expressed
ny Prof. Roentgen as to the usefulness of
tnese rays in the treatment of infectious
diSes ses
The gentlemen who are said to have
conducted the exEerimentS in Chicago are
unknown to me-" said he, in conclusion
as experts in bacteriolcgy, and | an, nor
prepared to accept the simple neWspaner
statement as to the result of their alleged
experiments"