The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1901-09-28
OIsEASE-pRoDUcIN0 PLANTS.


Germs o. Various Illnesses
~ Mankind.
Science has now decided that many
OF the most dreaded disease germ!
are really plants.
As plants they agree fairly wei
with various members of the fungi
with which they are commonly asso
ciated in classification, says the Jour
nal of the New York Botanical Gar
den. They obtain their food for thu
most part in the same general man
ner, by tearing down organic com.
pounds, and by making use of the
simpler chemical substances thus
produced, which they take in by Z
simple process Of absorption over the
entire body-surface.
They are, like other plants of cellu.
lar structure. though Of but q single
cell. They are noted for their small
size. the united length Of many thou.
sands being required to measure an
inch. A great many Of them, hike
other lowly-organized plants, pos
sess the power of locomotion, snl
travel about BY means of ella. They
show the same variation in health.
fufness and luxuriance, according ii
the special suitability of their grow.
Ing medium of environment, that
other plants do in regard to their
soil, climate and exposure.
Though certain forms are grown
for utility. those which cause con.
sumption, diphtheria. typhoid and
kindred diseases are studied chiefly
to discover what conditions will de-
stroy them or at least tend to iuhibi!
their Development or physiological
activity. or counterfeit the injurious
effects of the latter.
( 1t is known that in the same BODY
the germs will be able to thrive III
one time, but not Mt another. 1t is
also notable that in the case Of some
disease-Producing bacteria the luxu.
uriancc with which they develop and
even more particularly the violence
Of the diseases which they produce,
depend in high degree upon their
association with other species. Thus
the species which produces tetanus,
or iockjaw. cannot live where there
Is q free access of fresh air or oxy.
gen; but IL it can associate with il.
self another species, which consumes
oxygen, the two can thrive together.
Upon the other hand, there are
cases in which such association is
adverse to the welfare of the germs
This fact has been utilized by intro
1ucing the plants of erysipelas to the
Systems of those suffering from sar.
coma, disease producing many SIM
iarfties to cancer. The latter has
been entirely cured in some cases, |
yreatly benefited in many others.
Two quite distinct methods exist |
or the production of the poisons. /
)ne is the same rs that followed bv |
ordinary poisonous plants. like the
or the aconite. belladonna
n strychnine plants. In each OF /
hese the poison results as . waste |
'roduct from the nutritive processes
'oing on within the plant-bcdy, so
hat the substance of the poison has /
previously belonged to the substance
t the plant-body. While this poison
an be OF service to the plant as a
yet 1t cannot be allowed
0 accumulate indefinitely. The AGO.
lite plant gets rid Of it by storage in
Is tuber, which then decays in the
oil after producing the plan: of the
GLOWING year. The belladona plant
torres most of it in the leaves, which
al and decay. while the strychnine
liant does the same with its seeds.
the case OF bacterial plants grow
q within our bodies. these poiscns
IN be discarded from the plant
odies only by excretion directly into
ar blood. and this we have already
zen is proved by observed effects.
The other method of poison produc-
ON is that by which the bacteria
ar apart the organic substances OF
10 tissues of fluids which surround
lem, extracting the very small por-
ON which they can use. and leaving
le residue, or part of it, in the form
poisonous body. So far as the
suit is concerned, this method .
les not differ from the other,
ough it explains the extremely
'structive nature Of these organ ,
ms in disease.
Extract from Rhetorical Novel.
Ny mind was dwelling upon NV last