The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-10-12

In no "smears" OF these bacteria were
there any Of the well-known Pfeiffer bacill
OF influenza or any double cocci OF pneu
monia.
The newly discovered germ has charac
terlstics peculiarly its own. These are de-
scribod in technical reports in the London
Lancet for July and the British Medical
Journal for August 10. 1918.
AS 4 rule there are so many bacteria that
are specifically at first glance exactly
alike that q mere inspection OF them I'M
dyed or unstained under the microscope
without planting them in various small test
Tubes Of different soils would fool even eX-
perts into believing that they are similar
and identifiable.
On this account 1t Is that psychologists
must use great many other tests to con-
vince themselves and their skeptcal con-
frcrcs and enemies that they have new
and different germ.
It is done in this way. When they find
and isolate a baCterium and under the
microscope It resembles even when
stained blue or otherwise dyed the dirlo-
cocci of pneumonia or meningitis -both OF
which also look alike--they put iodine on
its TAIL" as it we're. If it takes" it is thus
differentiated into one OF two groups which
take or do not take iodine.
Then it is planted in gclatine. 1t either
grows and mcts the gclatine or it does
not. Thus another group is found.
Then potato moss. agar, banana, blood
serum and other soils are used--until q
whole series of facts are found about
germ which show it to be different from all
hitherto discovered ones.
Thus it is with the new germ. The med
ical gentlemen determined that it has
none Of the earmarks Of any bacillus that
has ever been brought into captivity
This bacillus we have found grows with
extreme reluctance upon the various
media" or fields on which most other
micro-organisms thrive. 1t bankers after
blood. 1t thrivcs ard grows best en- blood
serum media. although it. does not grow
in the human blood.
There is luxuriant. rich. abundant
sprouting of the malicious bacillus in this
serum soil. which explains why Spanish in
huenza clings so tcnaciously to the lips,
the tongue, the mouth and tho gums OF It's
victims and it's carriers"
The physicians and scientists OF the
Allied countries are seriously considering
whether or not the germs OF this disease
have been Intentionally disseminated by
the German Government with the inten-
tion Of weakening their opponents. No
definite conclusion has been reached on
this point. but the charge canot be hastily
dismissed as the German Government has
already been convicted Of employing dis
ease germs against civilians in Rumania.
The disease was first observed by army
doctors 10 be raging in the German
trenches on the Flanders front in the vet
weather Of last Spring, From the front
it passed to the weakened interior nopua-
ton Of Germany with great severity. 1t
then broke out in Spain. and as the French
civilians first noticed its raVagoS there
they called it Spanish influenza. II is sig
niIicart that intercourse between Germany
and Snain by U-b0at and in other ways
has been particular? frequent. From
these two centres lis worldwide spread
has started.
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