The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-06-15
MENACE TO CIVILIZATION
Doctors Have a Symposium on Pneu.
fnOnia.
CONVENTION AT ATLANTIC CITY.
The Dread Disease Declared TO Be on the
Increase in Every City in the Union Except
Washington Sternberg, Discoverer Of
the Pnuemococus, and DR.. Fulton Take Part
In the Discussion.

Atlantic City, n. J., (SpcciaD -
Pneumonia, which, in the words OF
Dr. Edward +. Wells, OF Chicago, "is
new menace to civilization" was
the subject OF much earnest discussion
by the members Of the American
Medical Association. At the session
of the section of hygiene and san-
tary science the disease was dealt
with in paper read by Dr. Wells,
who stated that it was virulently com
municipal, and the section Of materia
medica. pharmacy and therapeutics held
a symposium for the discussion Of the
subject. Among those who partici-
patcd in the discussion were former
Surgeon General Sternberg; DR..
George Dock. OF Ann Arbor. Mich
DR.. Solomon Soil Cohen. OF Philadel-
phia; DIR. Nathan s. Davis. Jr., of
Chicago; Or. J. NJ Anders, of Phila-
delphia; DR.. George NJ. Kober, of
Washington; DR.. J. s. Fulton, OF Bal
timore. and many other distinguished
physicians
Dr. Wells said that the prevalence
OF pneumonia is remarkably on the in
crease. He quoted 80 cases of com
municable crulency. He recon-
mended the use OF moistened cloths
before the fac: and nose when sneez-
ing and coughing. He stated that the
pneumococcus was present in the
throat and nose OF many persons and
that it may be communicable by
coughing or sneezing.
DR.. Sternberg, who is the discoverer
OF the pneumococcus, or pneumonia
germs, doubted the practicability of
any method OF fumigating or steri-
izing room in which the germs might
halGen to be. He discovered the
germ in himself in 1880, and went to
Philadelphia to complete his expert
merits and verified them in Europe
DR.. George NJ. Kober, Of Washing
ton. said that Washington was the
only city not showing an increase in
pneumonia. He said thai alcoholism in
vites the disease, and tina, the negroes
of whom there are many in Washing
ton. are not heavy drinkers. and to
that fact he attributed the proportion
ately small number of pneumonia
cases
The symposium was held in an en-
deavor TO find a way of securing a
specific, either synthetic or serum. for
the treatment of the disease. The
speakers stated in most cases that
while pneumonia was not on the in
crease the mortality had not been
reduced. Having discovered the
germ, however. the medical profession
has had better understanding of the
disease and beneficial results in its
treatment are anticipated.
Another matter OF importance de-
veloped at the meeting Of the Section
Of Pathology and Physiology. Dr.
NJ. Miya shima, of the Imperial Japan
csc Institute for the Investigation of
Infectious Diseases in Toxic. who has
been sent hv his government 20 attend
the St. Louis Exposition. delivered an
address on malaria He said that he
had Investigated malaria in Japan and
Formosa' and hat discovered that
there is MOSQUITO which conveys
only one II the three varieties # ma
laria. and this is the malignant type
The doctors of this country have al
wavs held the theory that all mos
ouitoes carry the parasite OF all va
rie'ies of malaria.
DR.. William II. Welch. Of Ralti-
more, stated that the information
furnished by the Japanese doctor was
OF great Importance, as it opened up
new line Of observation and study
in malaria