The Washington times., 1916-01-26

AA by Flexner OF the invisible
germs that cause infantiIe
paralysis and with Noguchi's
discovery OF the germ that causes
rabies, additional links are forged III
the chain of micro-parasitology, un-
dreamed of by the forefathers OF tnis
science.
The discovery of germ after germ
followed so rapidly. in fact, that the
last strongholds OF prejudice and mis-
guided opposition were soon hearen
down before the indisputable proof that
diseases. in great part, are due 70 mi
crobeB.
First, the causes Of anthrax, then ty-
phoid, and, in turn, tuberculosis, pneu-
monia. glanders, erysipelas and most Of
tlreless industry and painstaking re-
searches of the interchangeable labora-
tory workers. AS death-concealing
mists along rock-bound coasts disap-
pear in the light of the MONDAY sun;
as the glare of electric street lamps
eliminate the footpad and the highway
man, so scientists have penetrated the
gloomy dungeons of disease. and oy
their discoveries have exposed to light
one bacterium after another.
The stone wall of human and animal
ailments caused by other than plant
microbes. seemed to bring bacterioio-
gists to a pause. No matter what they
did, or how man. Relatine TASKS or test
tubes of blood serum they inoculated
with suspicious material from malaria,
tropical dysenteries, relapsing fever,
and many other infectious troubles, no.
further progress seemingly was made.
From about 1895, the period OF the
birth of such boons as the anti-toxin OF
diphtheria and lockjaw, bactertologtsts
yet further contributions to the discov-
cry Of the microbic causes of diseases
were sporadic.
The Ceaseless War.
DR.. Laveron. u French army surgeon.
observed in 1880 certain non-bacterial
parasites in the red blood coTpuscles
recognition of them as non-vegetable
or animal parasites induced few In
vestigators to seek for similar causes OF
other little understood maladles.
The hiatus in this fertile field lasted,
however, but a short time. Soon dis
covery followed discovery with kanga-
roo strides. RouX and Won Behring. in
1895, delivered US from the bondage OF
fatal Group diphtheria by their dis
covery OF antitoxins. loose and Mason
discovered the embryonic stages OF
malaria-the apheles species. Reed
Carrel. and Agrinonte demonstrated
that the mosquito is a source of yellow
fever. Vaughn. Hamilton. and others
showed that the houseny spreads ty'
phoid. Flexner produced an anti
Wright discovered that the dead bac-
taroa of typhoid erysipelas. pneu'
| monis. blood poisoning ana other com
mon infections can be made into a pre-.
ventive vaccine as efficacious as vacci'
nation for smallpox.
Dozens OF other revolutionary bless
ings to mankind have followed thick
and fast within the past fifteen years
as a result of whicn the average span
! of human life has been greatly length
ened. In fact, so far as infectious dis.
eases are concerned, 1t may be safely
said that the man who had q probable
/ chance a decade and a half ago oi
! rea ching only thirty years of age, has
far greater chance today of reaching
! forty-fVe.
| In 1898 Prof. Loeffier. one Of the grea
! pioneers whose name will be foreVe
! linked with the discovery OF tn,
bacillus OF diphtheria, hit upon