The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-03

He belongs to the PasteVr Institute,
where discoveries of the greatest benefit
to humanity have been made within the
past generation.
Briefly, Professor Metchnikoffss meth
Cd is to increase the Hfe-giving red cor
puscles of the blood.
All over the world physicians and sci
entists are just now working on this
problem of curing old age with tremen-
dous energy.
A great result must follow from their
united efforts.
1t would be a glory Of the dawning
twentieth century.
All over the morld scientists are bust
ly trying to find what is practically the
fountain of perpetual youth
A few year ago such a search would
have been pronounced absurd and the
investigators would have been considered
fit subjects for lunftic asylum. That,
however, was before the days of serum
theraDy.
So wonderful have been the results OBJ
tanned by scientists who have made a
work that there is hardly a laboratory
Of note in Europe or America in which
there is not now being carried on a Sc
ries OF experiments looking to the dis
covery of some substance which, when
injected into the human body, shall at
least delay, If 1t does not altogether pre-
vent, that atrophy Of the organs which
mankind knows as old age. Here and
there success has been announced, but in
every case, SO far, ithas been found that
the discovery has just missed the re-
juvenation point. 1t was from Paris that
DR.. Brown-Sequard some years ago an
nounced THE discovery OF a medicament
which would renew youth. and now from
the same city comes the announcement
of the discovery of a serum that is ex-
pected to accomplish all that fromer sera
have failed to do
This time, too, the announcement comes
backed by the imprint of the Pasteur lab
oratory, for it is in that institution that
Professor Metchnikoff, one of the inter-
mes. has discovered the new serum.
Professor Metchnikoff's experiments
show that the explanation of senile afro
ply has hitherto been erroneous. The
theory was that certain vital blood cells
devoured others and the vital functions
began to weaken. The organic poison
thrown off energetically in youth were
believed to remain in the system in old
age, or, at least, to be less energetrcally
elected. These poisoned the finer cells,
while without action on those of the con-
junctive tissues. The noble cells died. be-
came the prey of the other or plebian
cells thus bringing atrophy to the organ
where the metamorphosis occurred Pro
lessor Metchnfkoff has proved conclusive
~ that the noble cellsp are not dead in
the organs atrophied by seniality.
Moreover, they may be multiplied. If
assisted in their struggle with the pie
bian cells, they continue to live actively,
as in youth, and, theoretically. the or
ganism will cease to grow old and life
will be prolonged. Professor Metchnikoff
has found means affording this resist
ance, and the results already obtained
are extraordinary.
The discovery was made in the follow
ing manner: NJ. Bordet, one of the pro-
fessor's pupils in 1898. published the re-
suits of curious experiment, which con-
sisted of injecting the blood of rabbit
into a guinea pig. Later he injected the
blood of this guinea pig into a rabbit
and the latter died. Professor Metchni-
kof sought the causes Of the phnomenon
and was soon convinced that the blood Of
the guinea pig, injected into a rabbit or
! other vertebrate animal Celebrates the
poison that weakens the red globules of
the blood and makes them the prey of
any disease germ that may gain access.
Starting from the fact that the poison
elaborated in THE guinea pig is fatal in
large doses, Professor Metchnikoff ar
gued that the action in small doses must
| be stimulating On this is based the ac-
ton of all medicines, such as strychnine
and arsenic.
He therefore began to inject into rab-
bits feeble solutions OF previously inject
ed guinea pigs blood. A cubic millime-
| ire of the blood of the rabbits thus treat
| Ell contained before the injection three
million red globules. In three or four
! days the number increased to eight mil
| lion.
A sovereign remedy against anaemia
has been discovered and the theory con-
corning the red globules has been con-
/ firmed Aa entire section Of the Pasteur
4 Institute is now working to find the spe-
cihc serum for each particular organ If
J the blood serum acts on the red globules
| of the liver the serum must have a sim
liar effect on the cells OF the liver, the
! brain serum on the brain, and so on. The
experiments have demonstrated this.
| A specific kidney serum was found some
days ago. The Professor is now detrm-
lining the exact dose for medical purposes.
The discovery has now passed the period
of mere laboratory experiments. The eel
ebrated Dr. Vidal is now at work on hui
man serum.
1t is not difficult to appreciate the i'm
mense Importance Of such a discovery as
/ this. No claims Of the miraculous are
/ made for the serum by its discoverer
/ DR.. Metchnikof, neither does he call il
the elixir OF life. neither does he declare
that the serum cannot be improved
/ When an injection Of the newly diScov-
cred substance IS given TO an old man he
does not Straighten up before the eyes
OF the doctor, neither do his cheeks glow
With youth. His gray hair does mo-
promptly regain its color, neither does
any other Immediately visible chang,
take place. The recipient Of the treat
ment. however, does feel very much strong
e. and better.
Il WIS Professor Virchow who once
said that man was as old as his ar
teries II has always been taught in the
schools that the actual cause Of old az,
was atrophy Of the muscular coats OF tbs
arteries. The better to understand jus
what Professor Virchow meant. the fol
! lowing explanation OF the way in whicf