Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-19
THE YELLOW-FEVER
Report Of the Commission Ap-
pointed to Investigate 1t
NATURE OF THE DISEASE,
Summary Of the Conclusions Of tho
Commission.
sANARELLrs BACILLUS THE CAusn
This Bacillus avery Susceptible "a
Influences Injurious to Bacterial
Life, and Its Ready Control by Dis.
infection Assured"

WASHINGTON, August 1S-The reporu
of the commission appointed by the Pres
ident in 1897 from the Marine Hospital
Service staff to investigate the nature Of
yellow-fever was to-day made public BY
Surgeon-General Wyman.
The commission was composed OF Sur
geon Eugene Wasdl and Passed-Assist-
ant-Surgeon Gsddings both OF them yell
low-fevcr experts.
The conclusions Of the commission ara
summarized as follows:
Il. That the micro-organlsm discovered
by Professor Giuseppe Sanarelli, of ths
University OF Bologna, Italy. and by him
named bacillus icteroides." is the cause
OF yellow-fever
INFECTIOUS IN CERTAIN ANIMALS
'2. That yellow-fever Is naturally tn-
fictitious in certain animals, the degrees
varying With the species; that in soma
rodents local infection is very quickly
followed by blood infection. and that
while In dogs and rabbits there IL no EVIL
| dence OF this subsequent invasion or tho
blood, monkeys react to the infection tho
same as man.
%. That infection takes place by way
OF the respiratory tract. the primary
colonization in this tract giving rise TO
the earlier manifestations OF the Disease
~ That in many cases of the disease.
| probably a majority, the primary infecs
| ton or colonization In the lungs IL fois
/ lxr pIa,. nj
! condary colonization OF this organism IN
the blood of the patient. This secondary
infection may be complicated by the CO.
Instantaneous passage of other organising
into the blood, or this complication may
arise during the last hours Of life.
| NOT PRIMARILY A sEPTIcAEMIA.
Is. That there is no evidence TO support
the theory advanced by Professor Sana-
relli that this disease is primarily sep
| ticaemia. inasmuch as cases do occur In
which the bacillus ictcroides cannot be
| found in the blood or organs In which IL
might be deposited therefrom.
&c That there exists no casual relation
ship between the bacillus * OF Stern
berg and that Of this highly infectious
disease, aud that the bacillus X Is fire.
| auently found in the intestinal canals or
normal animals and of man, as well as
| in the bronchial secretion and elsewhere.
| a. That so far as your commission 10
! aware the bacillus icteroides has newer
been found I'm any body other than one In
| fected with yellow-fever, and that what
ever may be the cultural similarities be-
| tween this and other micro organisms. IL
is characterized by a specihcity which Is
/ distinctive.
IT'S CONTROL ASSURED.
"S. That the bacillus icteroides is worry
susceptible to influences injurious to bac-
terial life. and that Its ready control by
! the processes OF disinfection, chemical
and mechanical, Is assured.
80. That the bacillus icteroides produces
! in vitro. as we'll as invita-, toxin Of tho
most marked potency, and that. from our
! present knowledge, there exists reason
| able possibility OF the ultimate produc-
| ton OF an anti-serum more potent than
| that Of Professor Sanarelli"