Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-22
New Move in Warfare
Against tuberculosis

at is true that certain p~olsons (anti-
toxins) destructive Of the disease-producing
bacteria have been discovered, but in more
than one instance it has been found that
these poisons would also kill the patient,
or, at best, leave him much weakened.
at was so with formalin, in cases OF
blood poisoning. Formalin will. indeed. de-
stroy the microbe producing this disorder,
but formalin's effect upon the patient Ia
still very questionable.
AN interesting thing which medical
science has discovered concerning bacteria,
but of which the general public, probably,
is not aware, is the fact that microbes do
little or no harm to. the hCSnan system
directly. They come into being, live their
little lives and die, nourished by the vital
forces OF the greater life by which they are
surrounded, without destroying tissues or
interfering with the functions Of that life.
D "But in the course of their brief &C
tivity 1t has been found that they distul
deadly poisons (toxins) and these poisons
produce the disease. From this discovery
rose the serum treatment-the invention, OF
the various anti-toxtns, An anti-toxin, as
it's name indicates, is simply an opposing
poison. The anti-toxins that have been
found so useful in the treatment OF such
diseases as diphtheria, for instance, do
their work by destroying the poisons which
produce them
Into the system OF the patient the proper
anti-toxin is introduced by incubation. AS
the circulation of the blood carries it cours-
ing through the veins and arteries, 1t
meets, opposes and, il the disease has not
progressed too far, overcomes the bacterial
poison, and the patient gets well.
I'M ..-1.. Eo-o. .-t;Aovio g.. Tho Iofocf
1t was developed in Germany by Aronson.
Baginsky gave it the needful tests. 1t
seems probable that it may yet take it's
place alongside the diphtheria serum. The
latter is regarded by a majority Of the pro-
fession as almost a specific.
THE antitoxin treatment for tetanus or
lockjaw, is not so often successful, because
the disease is usually we'll advanced, the
central nervous system frequently being in
volved by the time its presence is shown
through it's characteristic symptoms.
ut is so, too, with hydrophobia. AS 1t is
wise to take treatment at once when bitten
by a dog, whether or not he be known to be
rabid, so II is wise to take remedial meas
ures without delay after such an injury as
a wound from a rusty nail or toy pistol.
Much of the recent progress in medical
science has been the result of vivisection,
10 WHICH 81 muCh ODJtCblOh 10 hlod II WI
tain quarters. But even If vivisection en-
tailed all the suffering on the part Of the
lesser animals which these gentlemen at
tribute to It it would still be right. Even
then II would be only the sacrificing Of the
lower to the higher animals, and this is in
accordance with the inexorable law of ma
ture hat insists on the compensatory sur
vival of the httest.
But, in truth, vivisectiOn docs not entail
suffering. The life of the physician is given
over to the alienation of human suffering
end he would be the last person to infiict
pain needlessly upon any living creature.
"As l have already indicated the foun-
dation Of the progress recently accom-
plished, as we'll as that greater progress
which is hoped for, lies in assisting nature
to effect her own cures by adding to the
patients power of resistance. Drugs arc
sometimes "a help, but pure air, pure water
light, more light-these are the great
agents, the use of which, properly directed
are now the physicians chief reliance.
"As we learn and practice more along
these lines, the number of diseased per.
sons in proportion to the whole is sure tC
diminish steadily and markedly. The race
of the future with better education along
these lines will be stronger, healthier and
therefore,, on a higher level mentally
morally and physically, than it now is oil
ever has been.
"The many medical congresses now beini
held and the discussions and the inter.
change OF views which these give rise to, thu
eager study which the physicians are giving
to their profession, and the wide genera
interest taken in everything pertaining t.
health, are big factors in the progress o
the present aud the future. To thes'
should be added the vast influence of tn
modern press which is always ready to opel
it's columns for the spread Of such infor
nation among the people"
OSBORN SPENCER.