Evening star., 1941-10-04
Of Stors, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
d In Laboratory. Field
And Study
BIZ Thomas r. Henry.

susceptibility to newly discovered third
type, the virus OF which has not been
isolated.
This paradoxical finding has just been
reported to the United States Public
L. Horsfall. jr.; G. K Hirst and E. H.
Lennette of the Rockefeller Foundation.
For the past year it has been recog
nized that flu may be due to either of
two viruses, A or B. They have no
known rela ationship to each other, except
that they produce what appear to be
Identical diseases.
As in most virus meladies an attack
produces a high degree of immunity by
causing the formation of antibodies in
the blood. But an attack caused by the
A virus will not prevent one by the B
virus, or vice versa.
Two weeks ago the Rockefeller Founda-
tion physicians announced hitherto
unrecognized type-inffuenza Y. No
virus has been isolated. 1t may, they re-
port to the Public Health Service, be a
general term for half a dozen or more
different viruSes, each unrelated to the
other, so that no general GY immunity"
from a single serum can be expected.
But they report, "Y" is considerably
more frequent among persons whose
blood serum shows high concentration
OF antibodies against both A and B. The
higher the protection it seemed. the
more likelihood of contracting the new
flu.
The finding vastly complicates the
problem of vaccinations against in
huenza, an epidemic of which is feared
this winter.
They also have found they report,
that persons with a very high concentra-
ton of antibodies against influenza A
enough in every cubic centimeter of
serum to neutralize doses of the virus
sufficient to kill 10000 900 mice-still
sometimes get the disease. This may be
oue, they believe, to a peculiar anatomy
Of the upper respiratory tract in some
individuals which prevents any intimate
contact between the virus and circulating
antibodieS.
On the whole. they found the greater
the number of antibodies against either
A or B the less the likelihood of infec-
ton.
A great deal depends. they believe, on
the amount of virus inhaled. The usual
method of distribution, they believe, IS
in liquid droplets from the coughs OF
persons with the disease. These are
floating around in the air everywhere
during an epidemic, but tend to be great
" thinned out in some places and
abundant in others. A very high concen-
tration of antibodies might not entirely
protect person who breathed in nigh
concentration of virus-containing drop
lets.
Weird new worlds of the infinitely lit
tle-Worlds of the most malignant de-
mons which prey upon life-are being
revealed to science through one of its
latest tools. the electron microscope.
This instrument magnifes easily 1oo.-
900 times-50-fold more than the most
powerful light microscopes. 1t has been
available only about two years When
1t was first announced predictions were
made that it would represent as great
an advance as for this age as did the
microscope itself 200 years ago
Already extraordinary results are being
obtained from its use. They were re-
vealed for the first time 10 the Amer
ican Chemical Society meeting at At
lantic City by Dr. V K Zworykin of the
Radio Corp. of America, inventor of the
instrument, and his associate, DR.. James
Hitler.
The first attention has been paid TO
dreaded, disease causing microcorgan-
isms through a research project spon-
sored by the National Research Coun-
Gil A ''rogues' gallery has been pre-
pared. the Interpretation of which will
require years.
An early discovery, DR.. Zworykin said,
is that the bacteria Streptococcus haemo-
lyticus, which dissolves blood corpuscles
is encased in a strong membrane which
resists almost any form of chemical at
tack. Chemical reactions with diphtheria
organisms have been observed.
The instrument, Dr. Sworykin said
has proved especially we'll adapted for
SIuuN VI lflC VII SdIiiotiio OiA A
extreme borderline of life-which are re-
sponsible for such diseases of influenza,
probably the common cold, infantile
paralysis, and a host of others. These
organisms are far too small to be seen
with an ordinary microscope. For the
first time they have been seen with the
new tool Some of them, like the ones
which cause tobacco mosaic and certain
diseases of cucumbers, were found TO be
rod shaped and others spherical. Their
| methods of forming in clusters have
been studied as we'll as the specific
actions of chemicals on them and the
formation of antibodies by animals to
protect themselves against the invaders
In the field of higher animals DR..
Sworykin said, studies have been made
of the chromosome strands found in
every living cell. These are known to
be the seats of the genes, or factors
determining the Unbeatable characters OF
| the organism. 1t is entirely possible
he explained, that the electron micro
scope eventually may unravel the COM
plex secrets of human heredity.
Turning the applications in the nom
living world, DR.. Sworykin explained that
the new instrument is particularly ef-
fective in the study of finely divided mat
ter, such as the carbon black used as q
rubber preservative and as constituent
of various inks When used In pig
ments, the shape of individual particles
is significant.
| Finally, he said, the electron micro