Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-10
J. T7''-e - Dr. Brady
The nye,enic Purpose OF Cooking.


The plasmodium which causes malaria en-
J ters the blood OF the victim In but way
through the bite OF the breed OF mosquito
called Anophecs. The virus Of germ which
causes yellow fever enters the victims blood
through the bite OF another breed OF mosquito
called Stegomyia. The plague Is conveyed TO
man by the bite OF n flea which in.csts tho fur
of rats and squirrels. Mountain fever and
Texas fever are conveyed TO man by the bites
or ticks. The African sleeping sickness mot
the so-called sleeping sickness which physi-
clans know as encephal'tIs lcthargica in
America ard Canada) Is conveyed to by
the bite Of the tsetse fy.
Just rs trifing wounds inflicted upon the
skin by these parasites open portal for in
lection by bacteria, may not trinng wounds
inflicted upon the lining OF the Intestine by
parasites be responsible for other Infections?
Metchnikofr held that appendicitis was often
caused by bacteria, infection implanted in tho
trih'ng wound OF the mucous membrane in or
nc1r the appendix ny the thrcadworm or MIN
worm great many OF appendicitis
nave been reported. In which the surgeon has
found. ut operation. masses OF these parasites
WITHIN the ntamcd organ. Unuues;ionably
many persons harbor various parasites such
rs ptnw"rms. round worms or lumbric ids
tapeworms. yet suffer no disturbance of hcali n
therefrom. Likcwis" many persons bitten by
mosquitoes. ness ticks Of the species known
TO carry the diseases mentioned. do not be-
come infected. simply because the insect has
not happened to bite n person who was III ot
the disease.
So. the injury OF the mucous membrane lin
ing the aliincntary tract by n parasite may
give rise tn no noticeable Infection.
The Invisible microscopic eggs OF the intcs-
tinul parasites are ingeStcd In drinking water
or In various raw foods, or sometimes they
are conveyed directly into the mouth upon un-
clean fingers especially In children. The
manner in which drinking water or garden
vegetables or fruits become contaminated Is
through pollution from human sewage or. in
some Instances. the dropp.nSs from animal
which happen to be intermediate hosts OF
parasites Of man. This Is quite a different
matter from the contamination OF food raw
or cooked. by the handling OF persons who
are carriers OF such disease typhoid,
that ts. cooks or other food handlers who ut
some time have had typhoid fever and for
months or years aftcrward eliminate typhoid
bacilli. and so arc capable of injecting those
who eat the food handled.
Professor Mctchnikon advocated and per-
sonally practiced the boiling OF all drinkint,
water rs n prccaution against infesta ton
with parasites or infection with disea 80
germs. lie observed that despite popu,ar no.
lions TO the contrary. II was impossible to dis.
tinguish the boiled from the unboled water
by taste. lie advocated and practiced the
boiling OF nil milk for five minutes for tho
same reasons. lie condemned the. eating of
raw vegetables in salads, as n too ready
means OF transmission OF parasitic own or
eggs and also OF disease germs; he assorted
that washing such vegetables is not n suffi-
Client protection. that they must he ut least
scaldcd with boiling water. or better still
boiled like salads. The same rule he nppled
to all fruits. save those like bananas which
come in an aseptic or germ-proof skin.