The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-14

-0ROBABLY one of the most inter-
esting studies that the young ply
- stefan has TO apply himself to is
MIS1M the study Of bacteria. This work,
e@S of course, is all done with a high
power microscope. and. besides this, a large.
comfortable laboratory, with all Of the
other necessary appliances. is also neces-
sary. There are. according TO the doctors.
two kinds Of bacteria-one variety. which
produces disease. and another which does
rot, and is necessary for the continuance of
life. All physicians. however, put in a
great amount Of time in studying the bac-
terra that produce disease, for ii is in this
way that they are able 10 diagnose many
ailments. To carry on this research work
there is no more favorable place than the
pathological laboratory of the Indiana Med
ical College. This room it fitted up with all
of the microscopes of the best makes and
everything necessary for the convenience
of the students.
To say To a layman that the study of
germs is a pretty study would seem absurd.
And to hear a doctor speaking of the bac-
terra Of tuberculosis as being beautiful or a
perfect picture one would think that he was
only speaking of them in the sense of being
perfect in specimen. but to look through one
of the microscopes it will be quickly under
stood what he means. The different kinds
of bacteria are prepared with various
colors called stains, and the way these
little germs are arranged where there are
a number of varieties together does make
a very pretty combination, and is not alto
gether unlike a picture. For instance. with
tuberculosis the colors that are blended in
this are red, sea green and a darker green.
If a person not versed in the study of bac-
terra were to look through a microscope and
not be told what he was looking at he would
be likely to think it the map of some coun-
try in the far East or some other remote
geographical spot. However, to the ply
stefan each one of these pretty colors has
a significant meaning. and he can see death
and destruction lurking where the average
person only sees beauty.
Germs or bugs as the physicians call
them, are one of the subjects that they
never get through studying, and the pro-
gressive doctor, If he is a success in his
practice, must keep UP this work as dill
gently as the student his course in col
lege, for there are continually new things
coming out about the disease producers
which he must keep posted about or ne
will get behind and be unable to compete
with the other members of his profession.
In the laboratory, of course, research work
is taught. This, while interesting. is not
continued by the practicing physician. for
he has not the time. The only persons who
continue research are those who are en-
ployed by some endowed institution or by
the government. This class of work COW
ers a great field and also takes a great
amount of time. Those who do research
work do IL with the aim of Identifying the
particular germs causing the disease which
is being studied. Physicians say that while
in all diseases there are a large number
of germs present, not all of them are
causes of the disease, but can be found
wherever certain conditions exist.
IMPORTANT RESEARCH WORK.
This, they say, can be illustrated in the
case of pneumonia. There is a certain germ
that is the cause of the disease, but il is
surrounded by a number of other germs,
and only recently has it been definitely as
certained just which germ it is that cause
the malady. In the colleges this research
work is taught to the extent that If a stu
dent wishes to continue it he is qualified to
do so. but it is seldom that any of them
take up this branch of work.
To ascertain the effect of the various
germs animals are inoculated and the ef-
fects watched very closely. Many a guinea
pig has sacrificed his life to science, and
II is said that In the instance of the man
who discovered the germ of tuberculosis an
untold number of these little animals had
to be killed before he was satisfied as to
the identity of the exact germ that caused
the disease.
After these investigators have completed
their work a minute description of the bac-
terra is given to physicians at large, and
it is for this reason that the latter are COM
PEELED to continue their microscopic work.
When they have these descriptions IL is an
easy matter for them to diagnose a case,
and 1t is for this reason that students are
taught this branch of work so thoroughly,
DR.. Charles E. Ferguson, who is professor
of bacteriology at the Indiana Medical Col
lege, said the other day, in talking Of the
work:
I'm the laboratory we teach the use
Of the microscope and the cultivation OF
bacteria that produce disease. In the first
place, the only way to identify certain bac-
terra which are the cause OF a disease is
always to find them present in the disease
in question. The trouble with identifying
any germ as the cause Of a disease lies in
the fact that it is always associated with
other germs. Now, in the laboratories cult
walton of germs is a large part of the work
that is, TO grow them artificially. The
object in cultivating them artiicially is &c
isolate various bacteria which are found as
ISOLATED in the diseased parts of the body
Having once separated them in this way
one can select the various germs and make
pure cultures of different kinds; with these
different cultures animals are inoculated
and the cause of the disease is ascertained
by the symptoms produced. You understand