The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-08-27
written for the Citizen. }

written for the Citizen.)
Common errors resulting from the
germ theory of disease were pointed
out by Prof. Liebreich at the recent
German Congress of Internal Medicine
Medical men have carefully studied
the substances capable of destroying
the bacteria, but it is essential to con-
slider the cellular elements of the organ
! ism, aud To avoid the error of concen-
trating attention entirely on microbes
4 that often are not the primary cause of
disease but have developed to an I'M
usual extent through a lowering of vi
/ tally. The bacillus of tnbercle, for
instance, is found in healthy lungs, its
development assuming the character of
a disease only after the vitality of the
pulmonary cells has been impaired.
Prof. Liebreich is of oninion that
Koch's new anti-tuberculin will not
be more successful than the former
preparation; and states that while
Behring's diptheria antitoXin has been
very favorably reported on, there are
many competent observers who ques-
ton its benefit. Tetanus antitoxin he
pronounces useless.
The phosphorescent lamp on which
Puluj, an Austrian physicist, has been
at work for many years has bulb
much like that of the ordinary incan-
descent lamp, with electrodes OF alumni
mum wire extending directly through
the wall of the bulb. The negative
pole terminates in a small disc. A
small square sheet of mica, coated with
sulphide of calcium, hangs from the
lamp globe, and faces the disc. When
either one or both poles are connected
to an induction coil or plate electric
machine, stream of radiant electric
ity is reflected from the disc to the
mica, causing the latter to glow with
brilliant phosphorescence.
Some unfortunates, we are told by
NJ. Philippe Tissle are "born tredp
| in literal sense. The condition is one
of Dervous debility transmitted by
mother to her offspring as result of
her own fatigue or eXhaustion-a kind
of poisoning of the child through the
vitiated blood of the parent.
The origin of life must long continue
tempting subject for speculation. A
Philadelphia investigator, Mr. Charles
Morris contends that the conditions
tavoring the< development of organic
material wereTranstory, and no longer
exist, such material having arisen
from a vitality active stage of in-
organic chemistry. There must have
been time in tue earth's history, he
reasons, when chemical inactivity pre-
vailed on account of high temperature
and unfavorable physical conditions.
Chemical activity arose and increased
as the heated ocean was formed and
changed the first simple substances
into compounds of gradually growing
variety and volume. Many resulting
complex minerals were probably depos-
| tied as rock formations. The ocean,
having deepened aud freed itself from
foreign material, Inorganic chemical
activity gradually diminished until it
has now practically ceased, oxidation
having reduced nearly all substances
to state of chemical fiXity. With the
cooling of the primeval ocean and the
increase of sunshine, came organic
chemical activity. The material had
been prepared in air and water, and
may have had its origin in an early
reaction between carbon dioXide and
the elements of water, yielding hydro
caTbons, and subsequently, between
these and nitrogen, yielding the far
more complex albuminous, compounds.
The compleXity of mineral molecules
doubtless increased under conditions
restraining the activity of oxygen.
Seed forms of organic substance-sim-
pie carbon compounds-mayh have first
appeared, and these would serve as the
basis of gradually increasing complex
ity of molecules through possibly
long-continued process of deoXidation
and formation of higher carbon and
nitrogen compounds until true organic
matter appeared, and the chemistry of
life had begun.
The microbes of fevers may be scat.
tered, Prof. Chas. Tichborne believes,
in dew from sewers. AS the sewer
water is usually two or three degrees
warmer than the cold air of certain
| nOuIS vi Iue ulSul, Tue WdteIy NdpOT
rising through traps may be frequently
condensed, when each particle of dew
is liable to become raft on which mi
crobes may be carried for miles, to be
finally deposited wherever the dew is
ssipated-perhaps in a dwelling
reached through warn shaft.
An International Scientific Associa-
ton was proposed at the meeting of
the British Association in Canada in
1884, and it is now suggested that the
year 1900 would be an appropriate
time to organize such society.
From an exhaustive study of cave
debris near the Rhine, DR. Jacob
Nuesch concludes that this record of
the human occupation of Switzerland
extends back about %, 900 years. Traces
of man and his Clipped stone indus
tries are found with the oldest animal
remains, which belong to post-glacial
time and sub-arctic climate. This
period of man and animals lasted about