Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-21

skin paper. Even in these fine layers
of tissue the scientist may find thou
sands of disease germs when the
microscope is turned on them. And
these are the larger kinds of bac-
terra.
Sometimes the Hygienic laboratory
works off and on for 10 or Is years.
using endless generations of a bac-
terra family, in an attempt to develop
an antitoxin or merely in the hope of
adding some bit of knowledge to treat
ment of a disease. Occasionally the
disease is a rare one that the gov
eminent has been asked to study.
If research would be of benefit to the
public the laboratory sometimes gives
its time to such diseases even though
they are not prevalent. If the gov
eminent had experimental with Span
ish influenza before it became epidemic
a few years ago the results of the
work might have been of great value.
Tuleremia, a rather new malady.
vas recently called to the attention
of the government because of its oc-
currence in Utah. The government
scientists know that the disease is
something like bubonic plague. that it
attacks rodents and is carried by a
certain kind of fly. A cure, however,
is not yet found.
Scientists Contract Diseases
At one time six employees working
in the laboratory caught this strange
disease from their experiments with
laboratory animals. The public health
service took care of them, but there
was very little that could be done ex-
cept make the patients comfortable,
and let the disease run its course.
Devotion to science is marked at
the public health laboratory. During
the war one scientist went about with
a wrist watch like device on his arm,
and under the glass a choice collec-
ton of coolies. While the blood
thirsty captives fed on his arm, the
doctor impersonally studied their hab-
its.
The laboratory is working with
tuberculosis, dysentery. syphilis, small
pox, and many other diseases. 1t has
spent some time experimenting with
anthrax and also with botulinus pois-
oning, two diseases that are not SO
troublesome now as they were during
the war. The frequent occurrence of
both was traced to a relaxed vigilence
due to the high pressure of war con-
ditions. Infected bristles in shaving
brushes gave men the cattle disease of
anthrax. insufficient heating left the
dangerous botulinus germs active in
bottled olives.
Cases of botulism still occur. accord
ing to a laboratory bacteriologist who
has conducted numerous experiments
with this disease. They are a warning
against carelessness, not only to pack
ers but to the public as well. Several
cases have been attributed to canned
spinach. In one. a large quantity of
spinach was so hastily cooked that the
heat did not kill the bacteria in the
center of the pot. These bacteria could
have been destroyed by heating of the
an. and proper cooking before serving
would have been a safeguard.
There is now an antitoxin for botu-
lism. The hvgenic laboratory has es-l
tablished a standard of potency. I'll
knows what strength of the toxin is
sufficient to kill. and the strength of
antitoxin that is necessary TO neutral
ize that amount of toxin. Laborator-
les from different sections of the
other antitoxins for comparison with
the government standards. |
All the biological products of the
country are controlled by the hygenic
laboratory. Diptheria antitoxin. te-
tanus antitoxin. treatment for rabies.
yaccines and serums are tested for
s~terility and potency at the laboratory
This is one of the most Important
Of this branch of the Cow
eminent.
Many of the governments carefully
raised bacteria go into ~antitoxins. Lab
work is one of the few useful
careers that are open to pathological
bacteria. 1t is encouraging to reflect
that several billion. or as the scientists
say. myriads, of dangerous germs are
quietly for the public in the
laboratory