Evening star., 1929-12-13
INFLUENZA GERM
ISOLATED IN YEAR
Or. Isadore S. Falk Succeeds
in Experiments Begun
IL Months Ago.

2S VIC AsSpCidtCu EIcSS
CHICAGO, December 13.-A 30
year-old scientist, DR.. Isadore S. Falk
of the University of Chicago, has an
nounced the successful isolation Of the
germ that causes influenza.
DR.. Falk, professor of hygiene and
bacteriology, began his search for the
influenza germ year ago yesterday,
and succeeded in isolating it Septem-
Der 80. During the course of the eX-
periments, it was learned, the 13 CO.
workers, as we'll as DR.. Falk himself.
were victims Of the disease they sought
to conquer.
With the announcement of isolation
of the germ, hope was expressed that
vaccine or anti-toXin might be de-
veloped that would bring influenza and
certain types OF common colds and
bronchitis under control.
the influenza germ, DR.. Falk said,
is of the pleomorphic streptococcuS
type, resembling string of pearls not
we'll matched, such as might have
been strung by a child" The germs
colonize in clumps, rough and smooth.
The rough clumps are the more viru-
lent, DR.. Falk said. The smooth ones,
he believes, produce common colds OF
the sore throat type.
In Normal Threats.
Some of the germs he designates as
Smooth" are to be found in normal
throats, the experiments showed.
Samples of the blood and throat cul-
ture of one of his assistants, Miss Ruth
A. Kinney, were used at the start of
the experiments. These revealed many
varieties of germs. After continued in
vestigation suspicion centered upon
one, and experiments were conducted
with it, convincing DR.. Falk that this
was the germ responsible for the
disease.
The germ, DR.. Falk said, will not
prove fatal in itself. but the disease for
which it is responsible WeakenS the
patient in many cases so that he falls
victim to other, deadlier, germs.
With the isolated germ DR.. Falk ana
his associates conducted experiments on
small animals, producing in them
disease similar to the influenza that
attacks human beings.
DR.. Falk was careful to point against
too great hope from the discovery.
Experiments Going On.
"In research for specifics for some
diseases, isolation Of the germ is rs per
cent of the battle" he said. 1T re-
mains to be seen whether that is true
in this fight. Experiments in quest of
such a specific are now being car
ried on"
II Is LII. Tdlh . OPlkllOil IlldI a NdS-
cine may be developed which sprayed
in the throat will cure influenza. De-
velopment of anti-toXin also is to be
sought. Indications that the germ
produces a toxin that may be combat
ed with anti-toxin are found, he said,
in the fact that person who has had
influenza is immune to it several weeks
after recovery.
Research work in quest of the in
duenza germ has been carried on at
the University of Chicago since 1918,
although the particular series of eX-
periments that proved successful were
begun only a year ago. In DR.: Falk's
group of investigators were r. W. Har-
rison. DR.. M. A. Jacobson, Miss Nc
Kinney and DR.. g. W. Stuppy of the
department of hygiene and bacteriolcgy.
Drs. E. r. Long, BelA' Halpert and R. r.
Cannon of the pathology department
co-operated, and later several others
took part, DR.. Falk said.
Graduate:of Yale.
DR.. Falk. despite his youth, previously
had gained distinction for his invention
of electrical devices TO determine rap
idly the degree of viruIence Of bacteria
Both DR.. Falk and President Robert
Maynard Hutchins, youthful president of
the university, are Yale graduates and
both are natives of Brooklyn, N. Y. DR..
Falk finished at Yale in the class ahead
of DR.. Hutchins. He has been at the
University of Chicago six years.
At the end of the present school
quarter DR.. Falk will relinquish his pro-
fessorship here to become associate di-
rector Of the committee on the cost of
medical care at the Hygienic Laboratory
in Washington.