The Washington times., 1906-02-23
HARVARD PROFESSOR
PICTURES GERMS
Revolution in Medical Prac-
tice Is Promised.
TRANSFERRED TO FILM
Development Thus Noted Without
Shrinking or Destroying the
Specimens Procured.

CAMBRIDGE. Mass. Feb. 2s.-That
Prof. RI. =. Ernest. Of the Harvard
Medical School, has discovered. after
three years Of experimentation in this
country ard abroad. method Of photo
graphing disease germs by The use Of
violet rays. which will reyoIutionlze the
practice Of medicine, was announced
after a meeting Of the Boston Society
OF Medical Science, at which Prof Ern-
est explained his discovery and demon
strated, il Is said, its practical efficiency.
by the Ernest process, il is asserted
it not only is possible to photograph the
disease germs, but also TO keep hem
under constant surveillance br the
camera and violet rays, watching their
growth and revealing instantly the ef-
feet of various medicines upon them. to
the end that medicines whic- will kin
The germs may be used in comba ting
The disease which such germs produce.
4 Patent Factor.
II is admitted here that if the discov-
cry by Prof. Ernest can accomplish all
that is claimed for il the medical frater-
Ii>y has at hand a potent weapon in
combating disease, and that al the
present methods for discovering, isolat-
ing, studying and combating germs will
have to be abandoned for the new meth
cd
If the method will do ali tbat Prof
Ernest claims for il he has made the
greatest discovery OF the age" said an
experienced and prominent member of
the Society Of Medical Science.
Ihree years ago Prof. Ernest de-
cided that the methods then in tlse for
discovering and lighting germs were
not what they ought to be or what they
couie> be made, If persistent and IN
tellgent efforts We're made to improve
them. lie conceived the idea that the
camera could be called into use az a
powerful ally of the medical fraternity
IN lighting disease and its products. In
t-.4 laboratory In Harvard he began his
ctss.
Studied by Hour.
Hour after hour and day after day
he studied the problem, and experiment
followed III quick succession Confident
that his theory was right anC being
unable TO work It out here. Prof
Ernest consulted with some OF the most
eminent practitioners in Europe. They
gave TO him little assistance, and some
were so skeptical that they laugl ed at
the idea that the germs could be photo
gTaphed- So firmly convinced was the
professor that he was on the right
track that he was not disheartened by
the words of discourage cement. He de-
cided 10 work the problem out alone.
After many experiments in an effort
to obtain light which would transfer
10 the film Of the camera the germs
which were invisible in most instances
TO the NAKED eye. Prof Ernest de-
Cided 10 Try the ultraviolet rays When
he had ccTeioped the negatives and ex-
amined them beneath a powerful micro
scope lie vas delighted to discover that
he had achieved success. Not only
were the photographs Of the germs
there, but tire different varieties could
be distinguished by their various forms.
Photographs Development
Having discovered that he could pho
tograph the germs, the professor decided
that he could photograph them in their
various stages Of development. ascer-
tain the rapidity with which they null
tipiied and study the effects IF various
medicines applied to them as "A destruc-
tive test. These experiments consumed
many months, anG during all that time
Prof. Ernest revealed to only a few in
innate and discreet personal friends that
he had compelled the germ 10 stand for
its photograph without lodging He
knew that what he had discovered was
destined TO change completely the ex-
listing order of things in the field of bac-
teriOlogy and tC compel the medical
fraternity TO recognize in the camera
one of its most powerful instruments
est light that had been 5.'ed upon the
germ kingdom since gem first were
discovered