The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-06

of n Wonderful New Anti-Germ
Force.
From the Chicago Chronicle.
The whole theory on which text
books on physiology is now founded
was overturned by DR.. Jacques Loeb,
the eminent Psychologist of the Uni
versity of Chicago, in a paper which
he read yesterday afternoon before the
American Physiological Society. now
in session at the University of Chicago.
The investigator has discovered that
it is not heat derived from food which
is the motive power of the vital pro-
cesses, but that electricity moves and
controls the human body.
This theory, which has now, il is de-
clared. become a fact, has been ad-
vanced before by timid Psychologists,
but Dr.. Loeb is the first scientist who
has overcome the battling problems
which have presented themselves. The
professors experiments have extended
over several years, but not until yes
terday was he ready to divulge the re-
suits of his researches. These go to
prove that the energy of foodstuffs
and the motions of the heart are not,
after all, due to the production of heat
units. but to the chemical energy in
electrically charged molecules"
Not Alone IN Researches.
Prof. Loeb has not been entirely alone
in his Investigations, for after he had
carried hoj researches to &c certain
point where he was sure that great re-
suits were sure to follow he communi~
Gated his ideas to two of his co-work-
ers, Profs. Mathews and Lyons, who
took up different aspects of the new
field and have contributed a great deal
to the final results which DR.. Loeb an
nounced yesterday.
Prof. Loeb's paper was on the sub
iect Physical Effects of Electrical
Charge of Ions and the Electrical
Character Of Life Phenomenon" and
he showed that a part of the chemical
energy of food stuffs is transformed
into electrical energy which gives en-
ergy to the body. Slowly but surely the
professor has been drawing nearer and
nearer to clear insight into the vital
processes of the living organism.
The human organism" said DIR.
Loeb, 'is made up of ions or electric
ally charged atoms, or groups of
atoms, in solution. If 1t were possible
to introduce in the body these electri-
cally charged molecules we should be
able to modify the qualities of the tis-
sues. The body becomes overcharged
with ions, which are toxic. or poison
Gus, in their effect. Now by introdu-
cling ions of an opposite character we
should be able to overcome the bad
effect of the former"
Experiments on JeIIyfish.
In the first place, DIR. Loeb said that
he placed jellyfish in a solution of
electricity charged substance and the
fish Immediately responded with mus
cular contractions. Then he placed the
fish in non-conducting substance and
there was no response. Next he treated
muscles of animals in the same way
and the result was the same as in the
case of the jellyfish
He then put other muscles into pure
sodium chloride and found that the
vital processes were interfered with
which was proof that a pure salt was
poisonous in it's effects, because either
positively or negatively charged sub
stances were then present, q fact which
prevented<a response from the muscu-
lar tissues
Whether salt stimulates" said the
professor. depends on whether sodium
or anium overbalances--the muscle is
stimulated by electro negatively
charged particles and prevented or kept
at a standstill by electro positively
charged PARTICLES
Takes One Part of Problem.
1t was the part of Dr. Loeb to show
that this is true and holds for muscles
and egg cells. Prof. Mathews sought
to show that it holds for nerve cells.
The latter's work might be summed up
as follows:
First. Motor nerves contain or CON
sist of colloidal solution, of which
the colloidal particles carry positive
electrical charges
Second. Nerves are stimulated by
the passage Of the collodal particles
from a condition of a solution to that
of gelation.
Third. This change is brought about
by the action of electrically charged
atoms which bear negative charges
The stimulating action of any com
pound depends OH these negative
charges.
When the negative charges are set
free by the colloidal particles being
forced together they prcipitate the next
layer of colloids, which in turn set free
negative charges. This precipitates the
next layer and In this way the nerve
Impulse is carried
In regard to artificial reproduction,
subject with which DIR. Loeb. has ex-
perimented for q long time with the
most satisfactory results, he said that
all his experiments had been conducted
in order to discover whether electri-
cally charged atoms worked in the
same way in regard to division of cells,
rhythm of muscular contraction and
nerve impulses and he found that they
did.
Scientists were warm in their con-
gratulations TO DR.. Loeb and his as
ern Reserve University, said:
This is a look into the mechanics
Of living tissue which we have never
had before. Or. Loeb has brought to
the front the subject of electro -physi-
ology heretofore despised."
This work opens a new heaven and
new earth in physiology" declared
Prof. Matthews Of the University of
Chicago. DR.. Martin Fisher, another
scientist, said:
This practically changes the entire
basis Of physiological books, which
will have to be in great measure re-
written"
Tells Of New Germicide.
Another very important paper was
read before the Society OF American
Bacteriologists by Prof. f. G.. Novy
OF the University Of Michigan on THE
Germicide Action Of the Organic Per-
oxides"
For the first time Prof. Novy told
how from his observation of the ef-
fects Of different metals upon bacteria