The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-11-14

has succeeded in iso1ating a parasite found in cancerous groWths, but he has not proved that this particular germ causes cancer; so none of the attempts made to; destroy or neutral- ize it's effects has thus far been en- tirely successful.
 If 1t were not for the proverhial con-. versation of the ordinary physician the human race would be threatened by q multitude of radical experiments, so great has been the advance in the field of bateriology. Since Virchow defined cellular life and such men as Koch, Lister and Pasteur showed how the cells are disturbed in disease by para sites there has been an eager search for dangerous germs and for anti toxins to neutralize their action on the. body. Almost weekly we hear sersa- tionaI announcements about the isola- ton of germs and the discovery of q successful method of treating them. Most of these discoveries" soon prove to have little substantial basis and few of them are Incorporated into the regu- lar practice of the physician. A few of them such as the serum for diphtheria, are extensively used, but in proportion to the number Of new theories given Of medicine has been comparatively small
 One trouble with those who make experiments in the germ theory seems to be that they do not give nature enough credit for her cells reserved to combat diseases. They discover cer- tain harmful bacilli and after learning how these may De taken into the sys- tenn they attempt to devise methods for totally excluding them, not realiz- ing that such e course Is impossible, for disease germs are always with Us. It Is on the suggestion of such theor- ists that individual communion cups are provided and terrible warnings are issued against the use of common drinking vessels. Tinaid parents are often so frightened by these warnings that they compel children to go thirsty rather than drink at school, and yet these same children will walk home on dusty streets and inhale more harmful AEIGlS& LildlIG NV S8NO11SSlCA HI pi1S school tumbIer.
 The very air we breathe is laden with disease in embryo, but if the sys- tern Is healthy we are fortified against it's invasion. It is only when a cold weakens the system or abuse of the di- gestiye organs temporarily lezs down the barriers that the lurking enemy is admitted and we fall victims to the maladies they develop. It is doubtful whether really healthy person can be infected by ordinary disease, although 1t would not be safe purposely to ex- pose one's self, for we never know Just when we are in condition" IL has been shown, for instance, that families accustomed to well water l tainted with typhoid could drink 1t in safety, while strangers immediately suceumbed on tasting 1t. We undoubt- edly drink typhoid germs in various ways and 1t is not until the unguard- ed moment when physical weakness the
 resisting force that we give such germs llodgement. as sE sss.s
 The healthy person will therefore pursue his avocations and eat and drink without the haunting fear that he may assimilate the disease germs. He knows he can do little to keep them at dis tance and that the only way to exclude
 them from his system is by maintaining
 a proper tone in physical health. "Do not seek infection, but do not fear it,' is
 a good maxim to live by and it would add much to the comfort of men and
 women whom some doctors now
 harass by fear of disease germs.
 A case was reported recently of 8
 young mother who had been taught tc
 believe that all nature was conspirins
 to impregnate her child's food with dis.
 ease germs. She could hardly sleer
 for anxiety and because of her zeal.
 ous work in pasteurizing and sterilizing
 the formulae the doctor prescribed. The
 infant did not thrive, and when a nurse
 was called she mortified the men oi
 science by disregarding all precautions that had been taken to exclude bacteria
 and putting the child on plain cow.
 milk. The change produced in the child's health seemed almost miracu lous. Adult life is not so very differen
 for the theories of eating and drink
 ing which have prevailed for genera,
 tions should not be set aside becaus, the man with the microscope find
 germs ita drop of water. Food ana
 drink have always been alive with tn
 atoms of disease. but it Is only whei
 the healthy man "lets down his guard that they can find a chance to lodg, lin his ysten.,-Providence Journal.