Evening star., 1932-10-26
USE OF ELECTRICITY
TO IDENTIFY GERMS
TOLD HEALTH GROUP
Continued From First Page.)

the only way to differentiate these
streptococci was by injection into ex-
perimental animals, procedure requir-
ing days and very uncertain in its
results. Thus such dangerous condi-
tions of influenza and infantile paral-
ysis have been practically indiStinguish-
able from head cold until they have
made considerable progress.
Dr.. Rosenow emphasized that the
Streptococci themselves are not the
causative agents-at least, not entirely
of these diseases. 1t has been con-
clusively demonstrated. especially in
poliomyelitis, that the main agents
concerned belong to the invisible family
OF the flterable viruses, believed to be
the most minute forms Of living things.
The fact remains, he insists that these
diseases always are accompanied by
their special streptococci. The rela-
ton between the bacteria and the virus
is unknown. but it may be that one
cannot work without the other The
inability to find distinctive organism
has been the great encouragement met
by all workers in the field of influenza.
Sees Vaccine Possible.
DR.. Rosenow said yesterday he be-
lieves this new differentiating method
will make possible the manufacture OF
effective vaccines against these diseases
from the bodies Of their respective
Streptococci, without considering the
associated virus. Study may also shed
light on the causes Of epidemicS which
arise suddenly and then subside with
out any known reason. Finding OF
numerous influenza streptococci. for
example. might make possible the pre-
diction of a coming influenza epidemic.
The health Of the country has not
been adversely effected as yet by the
long. continued business depression, al
though there may be lag" effect
from malnutrition and worry which
will not show up for some time to
come, DR.. Carl E. Buck. chairman OF
the child hygiene section Of the con-
ference, said today
Actually the death rate never has
been lower, DR.. Buck said, and this
has been the case with all American
business depressions. He deplo-ed,
however the fact that public appropri-
health nursing are being cut because
they are looked upon as luxuries.
The American population" DR..
Buck said, can be divided into three
main groups. First, there are the great
majority who still have jobs of some
kind and are able to sustain themselves.
even on greatly reduced budget. They
have done away with the luXuries and
are eating plain, substantial food, so
health conditions among them are bet
ter than they were before. Secondly,
there are those who have no jobs and
are frankly objects of charity. Relief
work has been very well administered
during the depression so that there has
actually been no malnutrition among
them
Third Class Is Problem.
"It is the third class that we are
worrying about. They constitute those
whose income is inadequate. to purchase
even the bare necessities of life and
who either are ineligible for or too
proud to accept charity. Nobody knows
what sufferings they have gone through.
The great problem Is to keep this class
from getting larger.
"Malnutrition does not produce an
Immediately observable change, espe-
cially in adults. The real effects may
not show up until long after the actual
depression has passed. The same is
true of the terrific mental stress which
so many are enduring. 1t doubtless has
profound effects on the health of the
individual which may not show up until
long afterward"
The "goody-goody boy" isn't likely to
60 far in life, DR.. William A. White,
superintendent of st. Elizabeth's Hos
pital, told the section on mental hy-
giene yesterday.
The fact that he keeps out Of mis-
chief and is pointed to ss the model
child Of the neighborhood. Dr. White
said, may be due to the fact that his
instructive drives to action are not ade-
quate and that his natural supply Of
energy is not sufficient to carry him
| into activity.
Love is primary requisite for the
child, Dr. White said, without which he
is likely to develop perversions of char
acter. He deplored the fact that mil
lions of children still are considered by
their parents as 'property'-loved not
for their own sakes, but as mediums
for expression of the emotions of their
elders.