Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-03-02
UNIV ERSITY PSYCHOLOGISTS
STUDY DEADLY DISEASE.
SEEK FOR PREVENTION
Dreaded Microbes Found In Mouths of
Healthy Persons Indoor Workers
IN Great Danger Of Contracting
Disease-Prof, w. D. Frost Con.
Quoting Experiments,

In the laboratory OF the department
of bacleriology of the university is be.
ing carried on series OF interesting
invest ations of the germs which
cause pneumonia and some important
results have been obtained which sug.
gest the only successful means of
preventing this dreaded disease, The
ravages of pneumonia are becoming
moro and more serious each year, and
this year thousands OF deaths have
resulted from this disease in all parts
of the country, In fact, SO rapidly has
the death rate increased, that II is
now higher than tuberculosis, and
threatens to supercede the latter as
the great white plague" Unlike
mos Of the other communicable dis
eases pneumonia is going on its death
deaing course quite unchecked. for
medicine and modern sanitary meas.
ures are apparently unable to combat
1t efYectually.
Prof. Frost Conducting Work.
Recoenizing these facts. Professor
w. u Frost of the department OF
bactortology of the university, with the
assistance of several advanced stu.
dents, has been quietly conducting n
series Of interesting Investigations of
the distribution OF these pneumonia
germs in the mouths OF healthy indi.
viduals The results of these four
years of careful study and expert.
ment. which have just been compiled
are of great significance, They show
not only that the bacteria causing
pneumonia are present in considerable
numbers in the mouths of persons In
good health; but that the presence of
the germs is determined 10 large
measure by question Of whether the
persons are engaged In indoor or out.
door occupations; aud also that the
virulence germs diffoC greatly at diff.
feIent seasons of the year. These re-
suits are important as Indicating
bossibIe methods Of preventing this
readed scourge which each year
sweeps over the country carrying on
millions almost without warning.
What Causes Pneumonia.
In order to understand the nature of
these Investigations It is recessary to
consider briefly he cause Of pneu-
monia. The germ of the disease
known as bacterium pneumonia, which
is a minute organism only 1875 900 Of
an inch in length, gets into tie mucous
membrane Of the mouth and nose,
where, as these Investigations show,
1t may grow and 1--we often for long
time apparently without in ally affect
ing the health Of the person. Under
ordinary conditions OF normal health
This micro-organlsm cannot attack the
human body and lives It's course as
does many another harmless germ of
which there are many In the mouth OF
every healthy person. When for any
reason the vitality of persons sys-
tenn Is lowered however, these germs
are able to get foOthold and once
establishing themselves soon develop
the much dreaded pneumonia. Thus
under ordinary conditions the germ
reed not be carried from persons al.
ready suffering from the disease to the
healthy individual, but may be pres.
ent In the mouth Of the person in good
health waiting as II were, for It's op.
portunity which comes when the vi.
ality of the system is weakened. From
this fact pneumonia Is classed among
those diseases which are called auto.
infectious, because while the exciting
cause. |. e., the germs known as
bacterium pneumonia, must In every
case be present, the other factor or
predisposing cause that Is, the lower.
ID physical vitality, IS also necessary.
Study Germs In Healthy Persons.
The question Of great importance I'M.
der these conditions Is naturally that
Of how widely distributed the germ rs
in the mouths and throats OF healthy
geople. While II Is generally recog-
nized that the bacterium pneumonia is
found in the saliva OF considerable
portion OF healthy lndlYlduals, TOT the
statement IS frequently made that IL
occurs In one out Of every five persons
the experiment from which these con.
illusions are based have been made by
different observers at various times Of
the year and under variety Of condi.
tons. Owing 10 this fact II seemed
worth while 10 undertake a restudy Of
his question and 70 determine indie
pendently the distribution of this germ
in the saliva II was with this pur.
pose Of collecting data that would as.
sist in solving this important problem,
that the department Of bacteriology OF
the university undertook this series OF
Investigations which have been carried
On by Professor w. d. Frost, assisted
A.. ~ III ~