New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-10
NEW SERrMS ZOE Disease.

Encouragement for the hope that an effective
agent for combating scarlet fever has been
found afforded last week by a dispatch
from Montreal. 1t has been known for months
that DR.. Paul Moser, of Vienna, had been using
for this purpose a serum, presumably prepared
by Behring's method, although details are yet
lacking. DR.. G.. \. Charlton, Of McGill Uni
versity, now declares that gratifying results
have attended his own independent efforts in
the same direction, although he shares the
honor with another American, DR.. Hubert, OF
Detroit While psychologists have been iden-
tifying one disease germ after another during
the last quarter of a century, several important
sources of mischief have eluded their search,
Recent works on bacteria announce that the
microbe of scarlet fever is still missing. Even
Dr. Charlton does not assert that he has found
the primary cause. He is convinced however
that one of the pus producers, or streptococcI
which accompany severe cases. is really re
spOnsible for the intensity OF the attack by in
ducing suppuration in the ear. frightening the
general fever and leading to consequences
which last long after the principal disorder has
disappeared. Quite apart from the soundness
OF his theory, one cannot but be impressed with
Dr. Charlton's statement as to the effects pro-
duced by using the new serum. Out Of fifteen
cases which under the ordinary treatment
would lin his Judgment have terminated fatally
thirteen were attended by prompt recovery.
Kindred Investigations In regard to rheuma-
tism have also reached an interesting stage
within the last few weeks. DR.. Fritz Meyer a
German, thinks that he has at last discovered
the germ of that malady. For long time he
hunted for 1t in the joints of victims He
made cultures Of the Iubricating fluid Of the
knees without success. Later he satisfied him
self that the baciIli disappeared from the joints
soon after the attack began, although they
fingered much longer the tonsils having in
vaded the system through the throat. Taking
material from the surface of those organs,
then, he was able to propagate bacteria which
when introduced into the veins of rabbits would
give them the usual symptoms of rheumatism
Another German. Menzer, has gone n step
further. From this same micrObe-Whch like
DR.. CharltOn's scarlet fever germs belongs to
the family of StreptocOcci-he has made a serum
which has been employed remedially in n few
cases. The first effect. he says, is temporary
aggrayation OF the local swelling and heat, but
this is followed by an abatement of the trouble
Furthermore, DR.. Menzer believes that the re-
lapses so common when other remedies are
used are entirely averted by his mode of treat
ment
Until these alleged discoveries are verified
not only by continuation of the experiments
of the men who made them, but also by the
testimony of other experts, they can be ac-
cepted only in a tentative fashion The work
has not been carried far enough to prove much
Equally promising announcements have led 10
scientific and popular disappointment. Time
and time again it has been enormously asserted
that the germ of cancer had been detected
Over and over again have sanguine investiga-
tors announced that they had manufactured
preventive orr curative antitOxins Yet TODAY
the only agents of this class in which the medi-
cal profession repOse much confidence are the
diphtheria and tetanus serums and cowDox
lymph. The policy which here gives such ex
cellent results has been attended with dubious
success in dealing with tuberculosis, .bubonic
plague. cholera, typhoid fever and rabies
Nevertheless. if Roadway has been slower than
il once promised to be, il has not stopped. I'm
foreseen difficulties have been encountered. hut
one after another they are being overcome Bae
terra differ greatly in size. dietary preferences
endurance OF certain temperatures longevity
under favorable conditions. their habitat inside
and outside the body. and their modes of action
in cauSirs sickness. Hence it Is not rea sopable