The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-14
METCHNIKOFF AT 10
SEES LIVES LENGTHEN
Men Are Lasting Longer Now
Says Pasteur's Celebrated
Disciple.
Special Correspondence 10 THE SuS


PARIS, June 4.-Prof. Metchnikof. the
famous Russian savant who has made his
home in Paris. received a golden book to
mark his scientific Jubilee and his seven
tieth birthday, the latter falling on May
I6 last.
In a recent conversation he said the
fact that has most impressed him during
the half century he has devoted TO sci
ence was the development OF experimental
medicine. Fifty years ago microbiology
had not been developed. Though Pasteur
did not discover the microbe. which was
revealed by Jansens microscope at the
end of the sixteenth century. he taught.
certainly. the world Its III deeds while
Metchnlkoff has given his theory Of I'm
mun,ty."
Since the death Of Pasteur, TO whom
he Joined himself as a disciple to a mas
ter. he is the greatest scientific figure In
France But he has not always been a
bacteriologist For the first twenty years
Of his career he studied and taught zool-
ogy and comparative anatomy. He pro-
fessed both subjects at the University OF
Odessa but microbioiogy has claimed him
exclusively for the last thirty years.
Prof. Metchnikoff considers that pre-
ventive medicine for the treatment OF man
will soon be as far advanced as veteri-
nary medicine. That the latter should be
more advanced 10 due to the fact that ami
mails can be treated experimentally. You
cannot inoculate a man." he says and he
regards this difference in progress as
justification for experiments on animals.
Progress is continuous, Notwithstanding
obstacles. and Metchnikoff considers that
one of.the Host terrible diseases OF mod
ern times will disappear within a rea-
sonably short time as the result OF
prophylactic measures. Medical science.
however. has not agreed upon the proper
line OF attack In consumption. Rid OF
these terrible scourses humanity will be
able to concentrate upon It's intellectual
development.
Mortality among civilized peoples has
certainly diminished" he said. "Peo-
pie live longer. and though the strain OF
life may be said to be more intense i'm
proved communication allows them 10
live away from the great centres and In
the purer air Of the country / myself
spend half my day at the Pasteur Insti-
tute and half at Sevres. in the midst OF
the forest"
People not only live longer but are.
he thinks happier. Their longer exist.
ence seems to be proof at least that
| they do not wish to die.
Prof Metchnikoff said that his own
conclusions on longevity are confirmed by
work done by his assistants in the labora
tory. Indol. the product of putrefactior
| In the intestinal tract, In a contrbutory
! cause OF old age. This was as indisputa-
BILE. he considers. as his theory-now
cslebrated-on the whitening of hair
caused by microbes eating out the color
Metchnikoff says that opinions are divi.
ded as to the practical result OF his sug-
| gestion that the chromophage could bt
driven out by heat. some practitioners
having been successful, while others were
only partially so.
Prof. Metchnikoff 10 producing a new
edition of his famous "Studies in Opt.
mism." which In England 10 published
under the title Of The Prolongation o
| Ldfe" This book will contain his lates
researches into this fascinating subject
Speaking finally OF relative progress II
scientific research. the grand old mar
placed Germany first, France second ant
England third. The United States als'
is doing excellent work. particularly II
the Rockefeller Institute. he said