The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-27

| YELLOW FEVER.-The cause of this
| disease is still under discussion
| Such are 4 few of the infectious diseases
| whjchawe can readily attribute to the pres
] ence of definite micro-ergansms in re-
| spective cases. But strange as 1t may
| seem. the most typical OF all infectious
diseases. smallpox. scarlet fever. measles.
| and hydrophobia have as yet not yielded
| up their secrets. This is possibly due to
the minute size of the heterogeneous
concerned. which makes 1t beyond the pow
er of the best microscope to demonstrate
them. In this connection II has recently
been shown by Roux and Nocard that in
the case of the disease known as pletro-
pneumonia of cattle. the causative agent
| is so very small as just to be barely vlsl-
bic Again. 1t is quite possible that these
| diseases may be caused by living things
we know nothing about and which may be
quite dissimilar from the bacteria.
INFECTION-ITS PROCESSES AND RESULTS.
In the foregoing list of diseases asso
ciated with specific bacteria, attention has
been drawn to the common modes of in
lection, or, as they are technically called,
portals of entry and 1t now remains
and results following upon the entry into
the body of such disease producing mi
crobes
1t is a well-known fact that the normal
blood has of itself to a considerable extent
the power of killing germs which may
wander into 1t through various channels.
Likewise the tissue cells of the body in
general show similar. action depending
upon the different cell groups, state Of
health, general robustness. and period of
life. The germ-kiIiing power varies in
different individuals. though each may be
quite healthy. Considered as whole this
power possessed by the body against
germs is known as general resistance"
And when by any means this power of re-
sistance is lost or diminished. we run
grave risks of mourning disease.
Granted a case of infection. let us nov
trace up briefly what occurs. Between the
period when the bacteria gain a Judgment
and that in which the disease assumes a
noticeable form, the patient simply feels
out of sorts. 1t is during this stage that
the blood and tissues are deeply engaged
in the attempt to repel the attacks of the
invading microbes.
With varying speed the germs multiply
throughout the body generally, or may be
at first localized, or even. as in lockjaw
remain localized throughout the entire
disease. Multiplying in the tissues they
generate in increasing amounts their nox-
ious poisons, which soon cause profound
changes throughout the body: the patient
becomes decidedly i'll. and shows now the
eli Of faly hi ipF
Does the body now give up the fight en-
tirely? No; on the contrary. the white
blood cells. the wandering cells, and the
cells of the tissues most affected still carry
on an unequal fight. From the Emphatic
glands and spleen armies of white cells
rush to the fray and attempt to eat UP
and destroy the foe, but possibly in vain;
the disease runs IT'S course, to end either
in death or recovery.
How. then, in cases of recovery are the
microbes finally overcome?
This question involves many complex
processes which at present are by no
means thoroughly understood, but we will
concern ourselves with the simple prin>
ciples.
1t has been previously mentioned that
once the bacteria get good foothold the
body is subjected tc the action Of generated
poisOns. which are known as toxins. They
give rise to such symptoms as loss of APP
petite. headache. fever, pains, and aches,
and even a state OF stupor or unconscious
ness In addition to the active warfare of
the white blood cells. groups of cells
throughout the body, after recovering
from the first rude shock of the toxins.
begin to tolerate their presence. then eff
feet change in the chemical constitution
of the toxins. and finally elaborate sub
stances which antagonize the toxins and
destroy their action altogether thus lend
ing aid to the warrior cells, which at las,
overcome the invading microbes Recov-
cry is brought about, and a more or less
permanent degree of immunity against the
special form Of disease ensues.
Now. if We could use these antagoniz-
Ing substances. or. as they are called
antitoxins. upon other men or animals
sick with similar disease would their
bodies be at once strengthened to resist
and finally overcome the disease? Yes: in
certain majority of cases they would,
and this is exactly what scientific observ-
ers have noted. worked out and have sue
cessfully applied. A new art in the heal
ing of disease which is spoken of broadly
as serum-therapy. or medication by cura-
tive or protective serums has thus been
discovered.
The first observers in this new field were
Pasteur and Raynaud in France in 1871
rs. and Salmon and Smith in this country |
in 1886. Raynaud. by injecting serum from
a calf which had had an attack of cow
pox, prevented the appearance of the |
disease in Il calf freshly inoculated with |
the virulent material of the disease Pas |
teur, by using feebly infective germs of |
fowl cholera, conferred immunity upon |
healthy fowls against the disease and was |
able to cure those which were ILL., Salmon |
and Smith injected small and repeated |
amounts of the elaborated toxins or pois- !
ons of the bacillus OF hog cholera into |
healthy swine. and were able to confer |
immunity upon them.
However. it was not until Behring. in |
1892 announced his discovery oNnn anti |
toxic serum for diphtheria, along with an |
undisputed proof Of its value in treatment. |
that The attention of the scientific world
was finally aroused and stimulated to the |
appreciation of the great possibilities of
serum therapy.
Strange as it may seem. much oppose
ton arose to this new method of treat
nent not alone from the lay portions of
he community, but even from the ranks
If the medical profession itself This op-
position was due in part TO misconcep-
ions of the principles involved in the new