The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-04
SCIENCE ON ROAD TO CONQUEST. OF
 INFLUENZA PERIL
Germ of Dreaded Disease Iso- lated Through Efforts of Rockefeller Institute An
 titoxin to Be Found

SCHENECTADY, N. Y, Feb. B. Hopes of thousands of sufferers from epidemic influenza for a cure or preventative of the disease were raised today by the announcement of the discovery of the caues and the isolation of the germ.
 The announcement is made by pr. Simon w Flexner, director of the Rockefeller Institute of Medical Re search. who attributes the discovery to Dr. Peter K. Olitzky and Dr. Fred ericll T. Gates. also of the institute.
 The isolation will permit experi- mentation with antidotes and anti toxins. The germ lodges in the nose and throat during the first 36 hours of influenza infection, then attacks the lungs in such a way as to make them susceptible to other germs in the nose and throat, notably those of pneumonia and bronchitis.
 In describing the details of the discovery, pr. FleXner says:
 The effects are of two general classes. First as they affect the blood cells. through the destruction of one variety of the latter.
 InJures Living Tissues
 "The second kind of effect from the germ causing influenza is far more significant and consists of mild injuries to the substance of the lungs, recognizable under the m1- croscope.
 This new bacterium found thus far only in cases of epidemic infIu enza in the early hours of the dis ease, is so small that 1t can pass through the pores of an earthenware filter and when ma gnified 1000 times is just capable of being seen distinct ly under the microscope.
 Tt has been given the name bac- terium pneumosintees, which trans lated into simple English signifies that this germ injures the lung tis- sues in such a way as to deprive it of the power ordinarily possessed of it of resisting attacks of the com mon bacteria of the nose and throat,
 Tn health these common bacteria are easily destroyed by the lung tis- sue. but as a result of the injuries induced by bacterlum pneumosintees, they now are enabled to lodge and multiply in the lungs, thus produc- ing these serious inflammations to | which the names of bronchitis and pneumonia are applied"
 pr. FleXner says the bacillus never has been found in healthy persons. nor in- those sick with other dis cases When it is injected into the windpipes bf rabbits it produces ef- fects similar to those seen in human beings in the various stages of the disease.
 Knowledge Extended. Recent reports received from abroad and from points in the United States" he says. indicate that a sec ondary wave of epidemic influenza, relatively mild in character, is pass ing over parts of Europe and Amer ica. Attention should be directed to these warnings in order that due pre- cautions may be taken to limit as far as possible the spread of this disease from person to person, and more particularly to avoid by means of proper medical and nursing meas ures the development of throat and lung infections which are so apt to follow influenza
 The series of epidemic waves of in- fluenza have served to extend med ical knowledge of the diseases. Dr. Flexner says, particularly in respect to the bacteriology of the original disease. He used the term original to distinguish between the influenza as such and the common complication bronchitis and pneumonia, to which the grave nature of influenza is dl- rectly due.