Evening star., 1921-11-30
The Microbial Theory.

Vhe Mlcr0blal Theory.
In so far as 1t applies to the causa-
tion Of those acute conditions of the
respiratory tract known as "cold,"
the microbial theory has arrived at
this status: All the authorities ad-
NIT germs have something to do with
these common conditions; some au-
thorities insist that many of us carry
various strains Of bacteria which are
capable Of injecting Sus-that is, in
vadins our tissues--only when our
'resistanee is lowered" by some in.
definite cause. This theory strikes
me as faS-fetched.a Although we
know fronsrepeated demonstration
that there are carriers" Of disease
but capable OF injecting others with
typhoid fever. diphtheria, or in some
instances. perhaps, other diseases,
there Is neither evidence to support
this notion of carriers OF acute
respiratory Infections nor any par
ticular need for such a roundabout
theory to explain the great. preva-
lence of these conditions.
DR.. A. t. Bloomfield OF Baltimore
learns that none Of the common bac-
terra found in the nose or throat
cause of acute respiratory diseases.
The carrier theory would seem to
fall for want OF scientific support.
But another scientific investigation
OF the subject made by DR.. w. Kruse.
who reported his observations in Die
Erreger Won HusteR und Schnnpfen,
Munchen. med. Wchnschr. 81, :1547,
1914 "a snort and a couple of sneezes
will get you over this all right il
you're ofra the .language). proves that
something akin to a virus present
in the nose and throat of one who
has an actual acute respiratory con-
dition like coryza or sore throat will
produce a similar condition when
conveyed to the nose or throat of
healthy person Kfuse passed nasal
secretion from persons with cofyza
and the like through unSlazed pofce-
bacteria. but permit ultra-micro-
scopic. organisms to pass, through
and found the nitrate capable OF pro-
ducing a similar disease by fnocu-
latfon. -
Persons with diseased; tbnsils. de-
cayed teeth and other septic or. nm
CLEAN conditions about the, mouth.
nose or throat; may become carriers
and spread infection among their as
sociates for a. considerable period
following an an acute respiratory, jim
But all Of this pure science directed
toward the 'comnion cold" problem
seems loves labor lost. Time for us
to begin to. search for innocent car
riers after we shall have convicted the
guilty distributors Of such infections
whose evil work. is already too we'll
known to all the wofid-persons coma
ing down with. IL with, or just .recoy-
ering from alleged colds" who per-
sist in exposing TO. infection al who
must come in, contact with them, at
work or at play. The carriers. II any.
can wait. until. we have the general
public educated concerning the COM
municability and the danger of the So
called cornmon cold. !. T. -s:.s.' =.
,aUEsTIoNs AND:AHswERs:
= ;. 5. what :weaId You tnos 49,
If. youa wsres m .ofd woman sixty
years old, with q. loose kidney way
doWn In. your add omen, burning like 3
coal Of FIRE, pulling down on, your
back until you ;wSre. ready to hollsr,
what would you 0f---(Mrs. A. l.. H
AnswerA-i'd yhSilerAfor the doctor.
But I'm darnsd IL I'd be an old woman
At sixty, .s.Tg Z" = i
One OF Those BallSved Myths.
: Is there any truth in-tks saying that