New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-08
REPORT ON PNEUMONIA.
WORK BY COMMISSION.
Experiments scith Scrum-Length OF
Life of the Dangerous Germs.

The Medical Commission for the investigation
Of Acute Respiratory Diseases. ordinarily KNOWN
as the Pneumonia Commission. which was ap
-nointed in August 1904 by the Board OF Health,
and began it's work in October. made pubic It's
first report yesterday. The commission consisted
OF Edward G. Janeway. William osler Wliliam ID
WEIGH, T. Mitchell Prudden Theobald Srl',i'
Frank Billings John II. Musser. l.. Emmett HON.
Francis q Kinuic,tt. Thomas Darlington and
Hermann NJ Begs
The objects OF the commission were TO STUDY ms
occurrence and virulence OF pneumococcus ana
organisms related to ar resembling this in the
human mouth in health and disease; to collect eNl-
dence OF variations IN yirulence Of the pneumo-
oocc,s: 10 study the occurrence of the pneunlo-
coccus in chidren's hospitals. homes and asSiums.
with study Of the bacteria NJ mouths before ana
after outbreaks of pneumonia: to consider 'he VI
tality of the pneumococcus under various conol-
lions and to make study - mouth disinfection
The commission Was found necessary because the
deaths from pneumonia and other acute respira-
tory" diseases formed g per cent Of the death
rate This percentage had doubled since 1873.
The report shows that pneumonia germs We're
found in as per cent of those examined IN uie-
cussine this question it says:
A possibility that pneumococci Of greater viz
ulence than those found IN the mouth are
la sne Thee Would SEEM to be evidence
the pneumococcus may suddenly appear IN me So
the organism il their mouths for consloerap ne
periods Of time and that even those at
every examination may harhor the pneumococcls
tract
A study Of the communicating Of pneumonia
ied the commission TO the conclusions that
o. Normal individuals in whose mouths the
peurnococcus is repeatedly found to be aDsens S ~
pneumonia or with positive normal persons; C22
the handkerchief and dishes of pneumonia ana
ssposifive normal cases may be regarded as means
Of transportation of the pneumococcus from persoh
10 person
A vigorous attempt was made to develop serum
which might be used either to ward off pneumonia
or to assist in Kidding the blood of the germs after
the disease had been contracted The doctors
found that all pneumococci were aEglutinafed oy
means of pneunococcuS immune serum; an I'M
rlune pneunococcus serum was found capable OF
eFgIutinatins various pvogenc streptococc certain
atypscsI organisms, and several strains Of the
Streptococcus mUcosus capsulatus: the serum OF
pneumonia patients varied in its power 10 aesiu-
innate different pueumococci. Some strains were
agglutinated. others not.
How the germs of pneumonia spread ABOUT
The report asserts:
The life of the pneumococcus in moist sputem
is of oonsiderabl bic duration. the average perioG
exposed to direct sunlight. But such sputum
does not give off bacteria. even when exposed to
nocuous except 70 persons handling clothes. bed
dlg eo ri mSh conGtions however this spnt1Im
dries in the course Of 4. few hours or days me
dried masses retain their virulence for long time.
and if deposited on the floor or the bedding Of
the patient may be powdered mechanically. and
sweeping busting brushing the contan ted ar
well distribute pneumococci in the air Fortu-
nately. however. the organisms in the sputuIn 90
not remain long in suspension and die on rapidly
under the action Of light and Gesccaton. In sun
light or diffuse daylight the bacteria i'll such powder
die within a hour and in about four hours If kept
in the dark. The danger OF infection from pow
dered sputun may. therefore. be avoided by ample
illumination and ventilation of the sick room in
order to destroy dilute the bacteria and by the
avoidance of dry sweeping busting Articles
which may be contaminated and which cannot be
cleaned by cloths dampened in a suitable dsinfect-
ant should be removed from the patients vicinity.
When a person suffering from a pneumococc
infection coughs. SneeZes eXpeCtorates or talks.
particles of sputum saliva are expelled from the
mouth. which may contain Viruent pneumococcl-
Such particles remain SUSPENDED in the air for a
mum Der of hours If the ventilation Of the room is
good They NAV be inhaled by persons in the vi
cnity of the patient. they may be deposited upon
various articles in the Whether suspended IN
the air dried surrounding objects. the writer g
studies show that they become harmless in a very
short time. about hour and a half being the
extreme limit. Thile many Of the pneumococci In
the spray perish in few minutes especially If ex-
posed to strong light.
In the light of experiments the risk nj infection
from the pneumococcus is largely confined 10 those
I'm direct contact with the person whose eNcreta
con tho organism.