Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-05-06
ONAHADOCTOR writes BOOK
Dr.. Willard LanEfsld'i Work Will Interest
Beth Physicians and JsJmsD.
DISCUSSES THE CAUSES OF INFECTION
VoIumelIntended for nurses and Med
zeal students May Prove Popular
with Others battling 90
Destroy Disease.

A volume primarily intended for nurses.
but which will be Of general interest to
physicians and students OF medicine has
Just come from the press from the pen
Of an Omaha author, DR.. Milard Lang
I field, professor of bacteriology and clinical
medicine John A. Creighton Medical col
lege, and bacteriologist Of the Omaha
Board OF Health. While the book Intro
duction TO Infectious and Parasitic Dis
eases Including Their Cause and Manner
OF Transmission) is primarily for people
dealing in a professional capacity with
such diseases. the language and style are
easily understood by the general public
An Introductory note by Lewellys +. Baker,
professor OF chemistry at Johns Hopkins
university, strongly recommends the work
20 the class OF readers for which It is in
tended and expresses the hope that il may
lead others ito undertake SUFFICIENT prac-
tical work in the subject OF bacteriology
20 permit them to apply in their various
occupations the principles Of this science
90 Important in connection with medicine
and with the nursing OF the sick"
The scope OF the book is indicated by the
chapter headings. ten in number, namely
Cause OF Disease. Bacteriology, Phenomena
of Infection, Animal Parasites, Avenues OF
Exit Of Infectious Agents and Parasites
from the Body, Portals Of Entry Of In
d, fectious Agents and Parasites into the
Body, Portals OF Entry and Avenues Of
Exit Of Heterogeneous In the Various
Diseases, Disinfectants and Distinction,
Collection and Examination of Secretions
and Excretions.
Definition of Health.
Defining health as that condition Of the
body in which all OF It's functions are
20 tha a
feeling OF mental and bodily comfort is
experienced" the author regards disease
as a result of rupture in the relation
ship OF bodies TO their surroundings which
leads TO disturbed functions, and 10 ur~
usual subjective sensations and objecth ,
pneumonia. The causes of disease ars
declared to be mechanical, physical, chen
ical and animate In dlfferentiatlng II =
fectious diseases four stages are commonly
noted: An incubation period, a period OF
invasion. a stationary period and a period
of decline. The author says: IAN in
fictitious disease must be regarded as a
battle to the death between the body, on
the one hand, and an infectious agent on
the other" The statement Is made that
infectious diseases are self-limiting. that
D Is, lend to spontaneous recovery, due to
the presence in the body OF "antibodles. -
which consist of antitoxins and bacterl-
cidal substances of which the latest dis
covered is "opsonin." This "opsonln" Is
normally found in the blood and can be
increased at will II scnsatizes the in
fictitious agents for easier destruction by
the "phagrcytes" or certain white blood
cells which destroy these agents.
Modern Treatment.
THE modern conception of disease takes
the position that recovery from an in
lection is always brought about either
a through the production OF an immunizlng
substance by the body or through the in
ltroduction Of the same from without" and
Or, Langfeld continued. The use Of anti
toxin In disease marks the highest re-
finement Of specific medication. in that an
minimizing substance is injected into a
patient which can be depended upon to
counterfeit neutralize a definite pois-
onous 0oxic) substance; the body of the
patient thus being relieved of the burden
OF producing antibodies, the immunity
forced upon the body OF the animal from
which the antibody is taken being trans
ferred TO the patient"
As to contagious or communicable a.
seases, the declaration is made that they
occur when the microbe is readily COM
municable from person to person by medi-
ate or immediate contact" OF all known
forms of bacteria, OF which there are
hundreds according to DR.. Langfeld only
-bout forty are known 70 produce disease
In human beings, the others are accounted
beneficial as they live on dead organic
matter. The author then defines and f.
Illustrates different forms OF bacteria and
tells of factors necessary TO their growth.
Eject of Bacteria.
Taking up the effect OF bacteria on the
system under the head. Phenomena of In
fection," five Infectious agents in disease
Rrs,senumera;ed; Microbes must be present
in sufiicient numbers; they must reach their
portal OF entry; they must De virulent; GER
tain agents must be accompanied by one or
more other heterogeneous or foreign body;
some diseases must be result of insect bite
The doctor declared that every healthy
person is by nature endowed with the
means Of combating disease" but natural
defense may be strengthened or weakened
by SURROUNDINGS. Environment heredity
and age are factors In determining predls-
position to disease. Climate has great in