Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-11-09
Some Bacteria Give Light in Real Fireny
Fashion.

Some Bacteria Give Light IN fSeei Eho"'
| Fashion.
| Microbes, like other supposedly i'm
moral creatures, are not as evil as
they are supposed to be. Actually
there are few germs that cause
troubles or POPULATIONS. Most of them
are useful or at least not harmful,
despite popular malignment and ac-
cusations to the contrary. If medical
science were to scotch all the mi
crobic snakes of the germ world, 1r-
respective of their beneficent, neutral
or inimical character. more harm
would be done to the human tribe
/ than good.
In brief, there are bacteria which
reduce decay in the intestines, winch
eliminate the poisons of fermenta-
ton: there are others which seize
| nitrogen from the air and make IL
into albumens and proteins; sun
J others make chee6eS ripen; many
build foods, and, in fact, many OF
! them even give light!
; II is usually imagined that glow
| worms and firef1ies alone nave the
power of emitting refulgent nasnes OF
light. AS matter of fact, pacteria
I
greater quantities and ever-groWlng
amounts. because with each fraction
of a second they inevitably multiply
and increase in numbers. Firenles
and glowWorrns naturally cannot do
! so.
The human race however, lacks in
its tissues this wonderful capacity to
! generate light. Many marine crea-
lures have this strange power, though
| land animals with 1t are few ana lar
hetween Fish and reptiles of the
deep that produce light seem to nave
| special organs for this purpose.
| In the matter of bacteria, their
every particle of life stuff seems 10
have the power of illuminant forma-
| ton.
| Phosphorescent chemicals have the
nature to absorb and then expei
light but the phosphorescent hgnt
which springs from microbic light -
made within the living structures OF
| these creatures. They are indepeno-
| Ont of all outside scourges OF hgnl.
| pIa ICING these germs in the darkest
| If dungeon cells would not prevent
them sending forth brilliant rays.
AS a rule, light is obtained by rais-
ing the temperature of dark OBJECTS
to the luminous points. MUCH OF the
energy of such substances IL thelI
lost as heat. Even the most elnciei.l
electric or gas lights lose IS per cent.
or more of their energy in heat. but
. ~ ner cent, goes to make light.
Homemade Experiment.
On the other hand the light Wnicn
comes from the vital parts OF bac
terra. marine animals and plants anu
the like, is 100 per cent perIeoa' ~ 80
If Il Is lost in heat Nature tnus
no rnfactures an ideal cold nght--a
Are that no burned child needs 10
dread. .,.,, ,;,,,,t
, reo,,ire oxygen just as man does.
| There are, however, forms OF me
which do grow in atmospheres OF
nitrogen, hydrogen and other gases:
| Oxygen kills these. This proves that
life may exist in certain moons ana
planets which wholly lack oxygen:
Other light producing anlmaicules
and germs require both oxygen ano
certain salty waters. These live In
havs and saline estuaries They are
| grown in laboratories on gelatine or
beef broth, but the addition OF sea
water to it will greatly help their
growth n
one of these microbes, called the
"photobacterium phosphorescens,
NAV be seen on and captured from
defunct behring's. IL a fresh herring
or some nearly related fish Is caught
| and not washed, but placed between
| two closed dishes in the pantry for
day or so a few illuminated spots will
be seen IL it is placed in the dark.
Under the microscope these areas can
| be seen teeming with the photobac-
| toriliy11 which create light.
| If picture of some eminent bac-
teriologist, such as Professor William
/ II. Welsh, is sprinkled with broth in
which these germs have been planted,
j the portrait will stand out brightly
! in the dingiest darkest of rooms.
| There are from so to 100 kinds of
| bacteria which produce this 100 per