The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-19
SEARCHING FOR TYPHOID
An Experiment Carried on in
Government Laboratory.
Bacferia Germs Applied 10 n Drop
froNe the Existence of the Dreaded
Fever In HIS system-The Method
Empioyed i'm Making the Tests.


the distinguished baeterlologist, DR.. White.
in charge of the laboratories in the build
ing formerly occupied by the Naval OBJ
servatory.
The kind Of research conducted in these
/ laboratories has become, in fact. a most
valuable adjunct to the work OF the medi-
cal practitioner, who, by sending certain
| specimens. blood, for instance, taken from
| his patient, to DR.. White, receives from
| him all the data obtainable from such mat
| ter by the aid Of that wonderful science
which, of late years, has created a practi-
sal revolution in many branches OF mell-
/ cine.
| Among the prominent medical men OF
the country who have pTofted by the aid
| of these laboratories is the Presidents
! private physician, who recently sent DR..
White a specimen OF blood from which it
was desired to ascertain whether the pa
| tient from whom 1t was extracted was
| suffering from typhoid fever. This disease
| has received the especial attention OF Dr..
J White, and the test used TO determine the
I fact as to whether the patient is a sufferer
/ from that malady or not, by means Of a
! simple meteorological experiment, Is prae-
/ ticaliy conclusive. AS the principles involv-
/ ed in this test are so readily comprehend
! ed, while they are based, at the same time.
!
| well to describe the process for the bene-
/ st of the uninitiated.
In the first place 1t must be understood
that the bacteria or germs Of the various
diseases diagnosed are carefully propa-
gated, and kept always on hand in the lab
oratories. No petted infant is more care
fully watched over by its anxious mother
| than these deadly creatures, so minute
I that a colony OF one billion could be con-
4 oil IN, loo ans han nj
They are kept and propagated in beef pep
! sin, which has been previously sterilized-
I that is, deprived of all germs proper TO it.
/ self flor every substance possesses certain
I kiris of germs). The disease germs, pre-
/ served in this medium. are placed in glass
! tubes, which are contained in what may be
! described as copper ovens. These ovens are
| heated from beneath by warm vapor, but
| an even temperature is maintained by an
automatic mercury valve at the top which
at a certain heat closes, opening again
when the mercury falls below the re-
/ quired mark. and thus always preserving
| the proper medium.
The germ OF typhoid shows great actitvi-
! ty under the microscope. The close re-
semblance between the forms Of certain
distinct germs renders the determination
OF their nature by their shape alone hard
" satisfactory The method in vogue for
aseertaining the kind of germ under scru-
tiny is by observing its actions. some being
extremely lively, and others, again, slow
and sluggish in movement.
In determining whether the particular
patient alluded 60 in this article was a
sufferer from typhoid. DR.. White first
mounted the specimen Of blood which had
been sent him under hign-power micro
scope. Then going to one Of the copper
ovens in which the germs Of typhoid were
l. l., all r<f1 frFfl
and inserted another and smaller tube, to
the end OF which was attached fine plati-
mum wire The surface OF this tube and
wire had also been steriliZed, one of the
most important features OF the expert
ment upon which probably depended
human life being 10 preserve the fever
germ entirely distinct from all others
The point Of the wire. upon which were
now eongregated number OF the minute
but insidious bacteria was then introduced
into the blood and the result eagerly OBJ
served II the tiny, wriggling creatures
ceased their volatile movements in the
course of a few minutes, eongregated in
clusters, and became apparently Hfeless,
the patient was a sufferer from typhoid
II, On the other hand, the germs continued
their lively motions for an hour or more.
the reverse inference would be drawn
Gradually the wriggling motions subsidized,
until inside of five minutes, the creatures
lay bundled together apparently dead. The
fatal fact was demonstrated, but by re-
moving doubt, AID thus allowing Of an
instant and deterninate course Of practice
ono the part of the attendant physician.
the test had resulted in increasing the
chances Of the patients recovery hun
dredfcld
As before said, the reasons upon which
the experiment was based are extremely
simple, although the world is indebted for
them to very recent discoveries.
at is strange to reflect" remarked DR..
White, that medical science has remained
so long ignorant of such vital principle
as that in disease nature has herself pro-
vided a remedy in the shape of a counter
acting poison which. by combating and de-
stroying the germ, works for the patients
recovery. This poison is known as toxin.
and its presence in the blood Of dis
eased person has enabled me to determine
by means of the experiment you have wit
messed the fact as to whether the person
whose blood was examined was a sufferer
from typhoid or not
The result which we have actually wit
messed and which has proved the affirma-
tive is ceused By the counteracting effect
OF the to3in (Which is never present ex-
cept in the case Of the disease) upon the
germs Were the toxin not present, the
germs would continue to live and thrive.
The toxin kills the germ, and hence the
effect observed"
The doctor was asked whether. in the
event of a tube filed with deadly germs
breaking through accident, the minute
creatures would disseminate in the air.
thus causing. perhaps. an epidemic.
The doctor laughed, and quieted the
fears of his questioner, whose hair had
commenced to stand on end. and his knees
to shake at his own suggestion, by ex-
planning that there would be no danger
whatever and that no such bombshell ef
feet need be feared by the people of Wash
ingtor.
But the idea was too terrible to be at
once relinquished. How about the
escaping of the germs of highly con-
tagious diseases. such as cholera and the
plague?"
IN the air OF Washington there would
be no danger" replied the doctor. Such
germs" he continued, propagate in water
and extreme dampness. You will recall
that. in the olden times, when Europe was
ravaged by the plague, it was found that
the water was a main factor in promoting
the disease, and many persons were ac-
cused of poisoning the wells. The same
was true during the great cholera cpl
demic not many years ago. In Paris and
many European cities frightful catr .ges
were committed at that dreadful period
by ignorant mobs upon those who were
accused of poisoning the water.
Il have destroyed all my cholera
germs, by the way" added the doctor. "as
had no occasion to use them, and l was
afraid to trust them in the hands CT my
assistants for purely experimental pur-
poses"
.sThen cholera germs introduced into
water would propagate?
s.Undoubtedly''
And a draft of such infected water