Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-12-14
Bacteria In the Air.

To the air has long been attributed a
subtle potency to incite disease when
suitable conditions prevail. One need
not 60 back far in history to reach the
days when "night-air" and "sewer-air"
we're feared as the bearers OF indefinable
dangers to health. The discovery of the
role of micro organisms in the transmits
sion of disease has largely changed this
attitude. 1t is true that air from certain
localities, such as soils or sewers, may
contain an admixture of gaseous impuri-
ties-carbon monoxid and dioxid, marsh
gas and hydrogen sulphid-which are
not wholesome to the organism. But
these admixtures are, in all except the
most unusual circumstances, 80 small In
amount as to have little II any harmful
significance for health. The organic or
solid impurities of the air give more
cause for alarm, for they include the liv-
ing bacteria. In sew er-air the proportion
of micro organisms is usually less than
that of streets and houses, and they are
usually harmless species. The move
meut of air In sewers is rather slow, so
that abundant opportunity is afforded
for the suspended particles, including
the living agents, to become deposited
on the moist surfaces. The gaseous
components of the air are of secondary
moment. There Is growing convic-
ton, however, that in the majority of
cases of 80 called "air. borne" disease 1t
is not the participate constituents of the
atmosphere that are directly responsible
for the transmission of disease. Sus-
pended particles, including bacteria,
may, of course, be sprayed about by the
acts of coughing and sneezing and thus
aid in the dissemination of diseases, par
ticularly those of the respiratory tract
But as a rule it appears that the diseases
conveyed through the air are carried
through the agency OF insects acting as
vectors or as hosts for the infective para
sites. In many hospitals, therefore, the
"air-borne' diseases are now treated
side by side in the same ward without
fear of greater transmission than il they
were isolated in separate wards. Atten-
ton is centered on the possibility of the
carrier agency, animate or iuanimate,
rather than on the atmosphere as such.
As recent speaker expressed phase OF
1t, the problem is one Of wire screens
more than of ventilation. 1t is, however,
of interest to learn something regarding
the prevalence of bacteria in the air Of
different regions. A recent systematic
study by the New York State Commits.
sion on Ventilation showed clearly that
the air of occupied spaces such as fac
tories, schools and offices contains more
bacteria than that of open spaces in the
city or country. 1t Is significant that the
increase in streptococci manifests itself
promptly in the occupied spaces.
Whereas in country or city air there are
rarely more than ten of this group Of
micro organisms per hundred cubic feet
of air, the number may rise to more than
forty in factories. There is a rapidly
growing tendency, supported by much
convincing evidence, to teach that venti-
lation has nothing whatever to do with
either the transmission of the so-called
"air- borne" diseases or the lessening of
their transmission. Furthermore, says
The Journal of the American Medical
Association, the opinion is freely ex-
pressed that transmission by way OF the
air is of infinitely less importance than
transmission by inanimate and animate
carriers that have been In intimate con-
tact with patients. Nevertheless, the in
disputable facts just cited regarding the
com parative distribution Of certain OBJ
iectionable bacteria In occupied spaces
still deserve respectful consideration In
relation to the problems of public health.