The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-31
DEATH AGENT
DISCOVERED
PROF JAaUEs LOEB, OF CHICAGO,
MAKES A BREATH-TAKING
STATEMENT
FOUND THE GERM THAT KILLS
notwithstanding Results of Simple
Experiments Explained Before
Gathering of Eminent
Psychologists.
FOUND THE GERM THAT KILL
DEATHS VICTORY MAY VANISH

CHICAGO, Dee. 80. = Experiments
which it. is claimed are the beginning
of the unraveling of the mysteries OF
death were made public by Prof. Jac-
ques Loeb at the fourteenth annual
meeting of the American Physiological
society at the University of Chicago to-
night. During the last summer the noted
scientist has been continuing his series
of experiments with the eggs of the low
er marine animals, especially those Of
the sea urchin, and tonight, in a paper
entitled ION the Prolongation of Life of
Unfertilized Eggs of the Sea Urchin by
Potassium Cyanide he told a group Of
the foremost Psychologists in America
that from his observation of the effects
of certain chemicals upon these minute
bits of protoplasm he was ready to make
a tentative definition of the heretofore
unknown nature of death.
Death, Prof. Loeb affirmed, was not a
negative process, simple breaking down
of tissues, as it has been regarded Up
to this time, but an active agent born
with the birth of the egg, and destined.
if not checked, to gain the upper hand
of the life instinct and bring ABOUT ex-
tinction.
Death Agent Checked.
But greater even than the apparent
discovery of this death agent in !. life
substance is Prof. Loeb's announcement
that he has been able to check it, in the
eggs of the sea urchin at least, by
means of chemical agents This, it is
claimed, means nothing less than that,
on a minute scale, the secret of eternal
life is in the power of mankind.
The experiments, Prof. Loeb says, We're
simple. Unfertilized eggs of the sea
urchin were placed in a weak solution
of potassium cyanide and abandoned for
several days. In ordinary conditions an
unfertilized egg dies in a few hours, de-
stroyed by the death agents born with it.
AT the end of several days the eggs were
again examined, and were found to be
still capable of fertilization and of pro-
ducng healthy animals.
In explaining the results, Prof Loeb
said that tmortiferous processes were
due to the actions of certain ferments of
an unknown nature, whose destructive
tendency was counteraeted by the po-
tassium salts.
Salt and Alcohol Experiments.
Several other papers of Importance
were read during the meeting Prof.
D. J. Lingle, of the University of Chi
cago, gave the results of his research into
the effect of common salt upon the heart
beat.> He afflrmed with great emphasis
that contrary to the statements of Prof.
w. M. Howells, of Harvard, salt is the
sole agent responsible for the rythmio
action of the heart.
Prof. T. S. Lee, of Columbia university,
made some interesting reports upon the
action of alcohol upon muscles. BY eX-
perlments upon the frog he demonstrated
that small amount of alcohol increased
the working power of muscle, enabled it
to make more rapid contractions in a
given space of time and delayed fatigue;
that, in short, it made the muscle a much
better machine. In larger quantities,
however, alcohol was detrimental in all
respects.