Disease germs, their nature and origin

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DISEASE GERMS.

NATURE AND ORIGIN.

Preface

TO THE SECOND EDITION.

The views concerning the nature and origin of disease germs,' now published for the first time in a connected form, were briefly sketched in the lectures I delivered at Oxford in 1868-9 ^Y direction of the Radclifife Trustees, and have been taught by me in my lectures at King's College for many years past. The conclusions arrived at have resulted from careful microscopic investigation, of the tissues and fluids of the body carried out by the aid of the highest magnifying powers yet made. Some of the facts will be found recorded in my Report on the Cattle Plague in 1866, and in memoirs and works published as early as 1863. The treatment of febrile diseases discussed in the latter part of this volume formed the subject of viii PREFACE.

lectures delivered at King's College Hospital. These were published in the Medical Times and Gazette in 1871-72.

The illustrations in the present volume are, I think, in advance of any yet published by me. By printing in three colours, very accurate copies of the specimens prepared by the process of investigation I have long adopted have been obtained. Although far less beautiful than the preparations themselves, the figures in the last few plates of this book really record with accuracy the appearances observed.

The method of preparing the specimens for examination under the highest magnifying powers is the same that I have employed for many years past. This has been described in detail in other works.

From careful investigations, extending over many years, I have been led to conclude that the particles concerned in the propagation of contagious diseases are allied in constitution to the living matter or bioplasm of the organism. The matter of which disease germs consist is not, therefore, a non-living gaseous liquid or solid substance, but the disease exciting material is in an actually living state. I do not think it is derived from fungi or other low vegetable

PREFACE.

IX organisms, and I have adduced facts and arguments in this work which I think justify the inference that neither " microzymes," nor " bacteria," nor " fungi," nor any of the lower forms of Hfe are concerned in the production or in the propagation of the contagious fevers of animals and man.

It seems to me probable that the subtle poison originated and multiplied in man's own body, or in the bodies of some of the animals domesticated by man. I consider that it has been derived by uninterrupted descent from the bioplasm or living matter of an organism which at an antecedent period may have been perfectly healthy.

Man therefore can alone be held responsible for the development of these disastrously potent particles ; and I believe that if our predecessors had been accurately acquainted with all the circumstances favourable to the production and propagation of disease germs, and had submitted to be guided by the laws of health that might have been deduced from such knowledge, we should now be living, even under the adverse conditions imposed upon us by modern civilization, v/ithout the risk of being decimated by pestilent scourges. Such happiness, however, cannot be the

PREFACE.

lot of this generation, nor, I fear, of that which is immediately ,to succeed ; but it is perhaps conceivable that it may be enjoyed by those brought up under the improved sanitary conditions that will be established in England, let us hope, at no very distant period.

61, Grosvenor Street.

Part I. SUPPOSED NATURE OF DISEASE GERMS/

PAGE

Of poisonous matter ... ... ... ... . i

OF VEGETABLE GERMS.

Of a single yeast particle, and of its bioplasm or germinal matter,

Of the production of the minute yeast germs ... ... ... 16

OF GERMS IN THE AIR.

Of the detection of vegetable germs in the air ... ... ... 22

The characters of the most minute vegetable germs ... ... 33

Of germs of different kinds of vegetable organisms ... ... ... 35

Of the origin of vegetable germs — Spontaneous generation ... 37

SUPPOSED INFLUENCE OF VEGETABLE GERMS IN CAUSING DISEASE.

The manner in which they might enter the body ... ... ... 64

Of the vegetable germs actually discovered in the fluids and tissues

of the higher animals during life ... ... ... ... 65

Question of derivation of fungus germs from higher bioplasm of

Of diseases known to be due to vegetable organisms ... ... 76

Some difficulties in accepting the vegetable germ theory of xu

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Part 1 1.

REAL NATURE OF DISEASE GERMS.

BIOPLASM AND ITS DEGRADATION.

Bioplasm...

Degradation in power ...

Bioplasm of man and animals in health

Bioplasm of amcebae ...

Bioplasm of bacteria ...

Vital movements of bioplasm ...

Bioplasm of mucus

Embryonic bioplasm

Blood-bioplasts or white blood-corpuscles .

Bioplasm of the tissues of the adult ...

From health to disease ...

The pus-bioplast derived from the bioplasm of all the tissues

Of retrogression in formative power . . .

Bioplasm of epithelium...

Multiplication of blood-bioplasts in disease

New observations on the growth and multiplication of pus

On the movements occurring in ordinary living pus

Death and decomposition of pus

91 95 96 96 98 98

lOI

115 118 121 126 128 130

DISEASE GERMS IN ANIMAL FLUIDS AND SECRETIONS.

Germs in fluids and secretions...

Simple exudation

Lymph capable of producing a poisoned wound

Pus of purulent ophthalmia and gonorrhoeal pus

Germs in vaccine lymph

Germs of small -pox

Disease germs of fever ...

Syphilitic disease germs

Living disease germs in secretions

132 134 139 143 144

148 148 149 151

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PAGE

Living tubercle germs ... .. 152

INTRODUCTION OF DISEASE GERMS INTO THE BODY AND OF THEIR ESCAPE.

Disease germs in air, water, and food ... ... ... ...156

On detecting disease germs in the air... ... ... ... ... 161

Mode of Entrance of Germs.

Of the passage of disease germs into the blood ... ... ... 164

State of vessels favouring the entrance of disease germs ... ... 168

Of the presence of disease germs in the capillaries ... ... •••173

State of blood favourable to the multiplication of disease germs ... 176

Obstruction of the capillary circulation 178

Destruction of the vessels and tissues... ... ... ... ... 181

Multiplication of disease germs in the infected organism ... ... 187

Concerning the possibility of disease germs passing into the substance of normal living bioplasm ... ... ... ... 191

. Escape of Disease Germs from the Infected Organism.

The passage of disease germs through the vessels ... ... •••213

The constant phenomena of fever and inflammation ... ... 214

The manner in which disease germs may occasion death ... ... 222

Of the manner in which an organism may be ** protected" from

other attacks of the same contagious disease . . ... . . 225

OF THE NATURE OF THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASE GERM.

Contagious disease germs not parasites ... ... .. ... 232

Nature of contagious disease germs ... ... .. .. .. 235

No difference to be detected in the appearance of different kinds of

Disease germs may long remain dormant, though alive ... ... 248

On the origin of disease germs ... ... ... ... ... 251 xiv TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Part III. DESTRUCTION OF TDISEASE GERMS AND

THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES

CAUSED BY THEM.

PAGE Chlorine, sulphurous acid, and sulphurous acid gas ... ... 263

Other volatile vapours — Pitch and tar ... ... ... ... 265

MR. CROOKES' OBSERVATIONS ON DISINFECTANTS.

Disinfectants of value in cattle plague

Carbolic and cresylic acids

Deodorizers and disinfectants

How carbolic acid acts in arresting decomposition . .

Action of carbolic acid on living organisms ...

Carbolic acid a test of vital phenomena

Action of carbolic acid on the vinis of cattle plague

Crucial experiment of the value of carbolic acid

. 268 .. 269 ,. 271

,. 272

• 274

• 275 . 276 . 278

ON DESTROYING LIVING BIOPLASM AND CHECKING ITS GROWTH.

On the free growth of bioplasm in inflammation ... ... ■••279

The antiseptic treatment of wounds ... ... ... ... ...281

Carbolised oil and putty — antiseptic lead plaster ... ... ... 283

Antiseptic lac-plaster ; muslin gauze ; and catgut ligature ... ... 284

OF DESTROYING DISEASE GERMS BEFORE THEY ENTER THE BODY.

Destruction of disease germs after their escape in sewage, &c. . . . 295

Chloride of lime, chloride of zinc solutions for disinfecting excreta 296 Calvert's carbolic powder ... ... ... ... ... ... 296

To disinfect bed and body linen and clothing ... ... •••297

Practical methods of destroying contagious disease germs in the air 298

TABLE OF CONTENTS. xv

ON DESTROYING DISEASE GERMS AFTER THEY HAVE ENTERED THE BODY.

PAGE

On checking the too rapid growth of bioplasm in the blood and

tissues — Effects of carbolic acid and sulpho-carbolates ... 305

Barium sulpho-carbolate ; sodium sulpho-carbolate ... ... 310

Potassium sulpho-carbolate ... ... ... ... ... ...311

General characters of the sulpho-carbolates and tests ... 312

Therapeutical importance ... .. ... ... ... •313

Sulpho-carbolates of alkaline bases ... ... ... ... •■•315

Sulpho-carbolates of alkaline earth bases .-. .. ... --^i?

The zinc and copper salts ... ... ... .. ... ... 318

Of resisting the assaults of disease germs 321

On the treatment of the febrile state 325

Of the mechanism concerned in equalizing 1 he temperature ... 328

Effects of external cold in fever ... ... ... ... ... 332

I. Failure of heart's action ... ... ... ... ... 336

II. Alteration in the composition of the blood ... ... ... 340

HI. Growth of bioplasm 344

The Principles by which we should be guided in the Treatment of Slight Cases of Fever, and of the Early Stages of Cases which may afterwards become Serious.

Of the treatment of slight fever ... ... ... ... ... 352

Indications for treatment as deduced from a knowledge of the state

of the blood prior to an attack of fever ... ... •••357

Sudorific remedies — Diuretics ; Purgatives ... ... ... ... 360

THE ADMINISTRATION OF LIQUIDS, FOOD, AND STIMULANTS IN THE FEBRILE STATE.

Liquid 368

Food to be given during fever ... ... ... ... ... 370

Beef-tea — Milk 374

The Administration of Stimulants.

Of giving alcohol to young persons ... ... ... ... ... 384

XVI

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Observations of Parkes, Anstie, and Dupre on action of alcohol ... 388

Of the action of Stimulants in severe cases of Febrile and Inflammatory Diseases, and of the Principles upon which their administration is based.

Objections to the administration of alcohol in inflammation ... 392

Objections on account of the large quantity of stimulants given . . . 398

I. Direct action of alcohol in keeping up the heart'' s action, and pro-

moting the capillary circulation ... ... ... ... ... 404

II. Indirect action of alcohol on the blood and bioplasm of the tissues 406

Of bleeding and the life of the blood ... ... ... ... 407

Alcohol not a food, but absorbed- as alcohol ... ... ... 411

Disease not due to defective action ... ... ... ... -413

Chemical action of alcohol ... ... ... ... ... ... 419

Action of alcohol on growing bioplasm ... ... ... ... 420

Of the action of alcohol on the vessels of the inflamed part . . . 422

Action of alcohol upon bioplasm outside vessels in pneumonia ... 424

Author's view supported by many general facts ... ... ... 427

Action of alcohol upon the production of heat ... ... ... 428

Of Acids and Tonics.

Treatment after the cessation of the febrile state

Of THE Sick-room.

Of the bed-room Beds

434 436

Appendix

438 442 501

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PLATES.

PAGE

Plate I. — Fig. i. Development of germs in organic fluids, showing the changes from day to day. Figs. 2 to 4. Bacteria germs under magnifying powers varying from 1,800 to 5,000 diameters. Fig 5, Most minute germs, visible under the one-fiftieth of an inch object glass. Fig. 6. Yeast cells growing, under powers of 215 and 400 diameters. Fig. 7. Yeast cells with germs growing from them, magnified 1,300 diameters. Fig. 8. Young growing yeast cells, under a power of 2,800 diameters. 16

Plate II. — Fig. 9. Old spores of fungi, with very thick formed material. Fig. 10. Germs of fungi, showing relation of bioplasm to formed material. Fig. II. Passage of bioplasm through pores in the formed material, to illustrate formation of branching stems. Fig. 12. Extremities of rapidly growing fungus stem, to illustrate rapid growth of bioplasm. Fig. 13. Most minute bacteria x 2,800. Fig 14. Germs of bacteria, growing and multiplying rapidly ... ... ... ... ... 20

Plate III. — Fig. 15. Vegetable organisms and other minute masses of bioplasm from surface of villus, cattle plague. Fig. 16. Vegetable organisms from a clot of blood. Figs. 17 to 20. Living germs from contents of hermetically sealed vessels. Fig. 21. Vegetable growth in mucus. Fig. 22. Vegetable growths in different stages of development in sputum ... .. ... ... ... ... ... ... 46

Plate IV. — Fig. 23. Bacteria from intestinal contents, cholera. Fig. 24. Free bacteria germs from columnar epithelium, cholera x 1,800. Fig. 25. Bacteria in the contents of an obstructed capillary. Fig. 26. Vegetable germs in blood of a cow which died of cattle plague. Fig. 27. Sporules of fungi in contents of capillary ... ... ... ... ... ... 68

Plate V. — Fig. 28. Bioplasm of bacterium. Figs. 29 and 30, Bioplasm of amoebae. Figs. 31 and 32. Bioplasm of mucus..

Plate VI. — Fig. 33. Growing extremities of placental tnf*.

Fig. 34. Capillary vessels opening into small vein ; Pia mater 104 xviii TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PAGE

Plate VII. — Fig. 35. Capillary vessels and small vein from the

turtle's ovum, at an early period of development ... ... 106

Plate VIII. — Fig. 36. Capillary vessels ; Frog's mesentery.

Fig- 37. Vessels, muscular fibres and nerves ; Bladder, frog ... 108

Plate IX. — Fig. 38. Deep layer of the cuticle, newt. Fig. 39. Superficial layer ; Cuticle, newt. Fig. 40. Cartilage rib ; Kitten at birth. Fig. 41. Cartilage rib, cat ... no

Plate X. — Fig. 42. — Epithelium from pharynx ; Sore throat. Fig. 43. Mucus cells from bronchial tubes of a cow, cattle plague. Fig. 44. Cancer cells ... ... ... ... ... 120

Plate XI. — Fig. 45. Epithelium of the tongue in a state of inflammation. Fig. 46. Formation of pus in epithelial cells of the mouth. Fig. 47. Division of bioplasm in cells of bladder epithelium ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 122

Plate XII. — Fig. 48. Portion of the pectoral muscle, frog, 48

hours after being perforated by a thread ... ... ... 124

Plate XIII. — Fig. 49. Portion of pectoral muscle, frog, 96 hours

after being perforated by a thread .. ... ... ... 126

Plate XIV. — Fig. 50. Portion of pectoral muscle, frog, 168 hours after being perforated. Fig. 5 1 . Vein and capillary branches ; Web of frog after inflammation had been set up by mustard ... 128

Plate XV. — Fig. 52. Pus bioplasts from a case of chronic inflammation of bladder. Fig. 53. Portion of a living pus corpuscle from the bladder, very highly magnified. Fig. 54. Portion of a dead pus bioplast from the bladder. Fig. 54*. Different forms assumed by a minute mass of bioplasm from the bladder during five .seconds ... ... ... ... ... ... 130

Plate XVI. — Fig. 55. Red and white blood-corpuscles in a drop ofblood from the finger. Fig. 56. Minute particles of bioplasm from exudation. Fig. 57. White blood corpuscles and fibrin from a pale clot, human subject. Fig. 58. Capillary vessel with numerous masses of bioplasm in its walls 1 36

PLATES. xix

PAGE

Plate XVII. — Fig. 59. Vallisneria spiralis, showing large and small cells. Fig. 60. Altered blood bioplast from the finger. Fig. 61. Lymph corpuscles from a vaccine vesicle. Fig. 62. Part of a cell in vallisneria showing minute bioplasts which move round the cell, with other contents 138

Plate XVIII. — Fig. 63. Bioplasts and bacteria in vaginal mucus, cow, cattle plague. Fig. 64, Bioplasts from small-pox vesicle. Fig. 65. Blood from intestinal capillaries, cattle plague. Fig. 66. Particles from vaccine lymph. Fig. 67. Bioplasts from a small vein. Fig. 68. White and red blood-corpuscles, cattle plague

Plate XIX. — Fig. 69. Bioplasts in milk, cattle plague. Fig. 70, Bioplasts and fungi in mucus, from vagina, cattle plague, Fig. 71, Smallest masses of bioplasm in milk, cattle plague, Fig. 72. Cancer cells from a case of cancer of bladder Fig. 73. Tubercle in coats of a small artery ; Pia mater

Plate XX. — Figs. 74 — 78. Dr. Maddox's apparatus for collecting

germs and solid particles suspended in the atmosphere ... 162

Plate XXI. — Figs. 79 — 81. Vertical sections through mucous membrane of small intestines in cases of cholera. Fig. 82. Vessel, with bulgings, consequent upon obstruction from a villus, cholera. Fig. 83. Cell-like mass, villus, cholera. Figs. 84 — 86. Villi and Lieberkuhn's follicles, in cases of cholera ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 184

Plate XXII. — Fig. 87. Summit of a villus. Jejunum, cholera. Fig. 88. Part of summit of villus, cholera ; Impervious capillaries. Fig. 89. Altered capillaries of villus, cholera 188

Plate XXIII. — Fig. 90. Summit of a villus, Jejunum, cholera ; Shrunken and wasted vessels. Fig. 91. Summit of villus, nearly healthy. Fig. 92. Capillary vessels containing pigment granules and oil globules. Fig. 93. Capillaries and bodies external to the vessel, cholera. Fig. 94. Vessel from villus, cholera ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 186

Plate XXIV. — Fig. 95. Mucous membrane of fourth stomach,

XX TABLE OF CONTENTS. ^

PAGE

cattle plague ; Vessels injected with Prussian blue. Fig. 96. Portion of a vessel from fig. 95, more highly magnified. Fig. 97. Capillary vessels from surface of a villus, containing bioplasts. Fig. 98. Capillary loop from Malpighian body (injected with Prussian blue) containing bioplasts ... ... 188

Plate XXV. — Fig. 99. Fat vesicles invaded by bioplasts. Fig. 100. Loops of vessels from eruption of cattle plague. Fig, loi. Capillary from surface of a villus, cattle plague .... 188

Plate XXVI. — Fig. 102. Section of pustule from eruption, cattle plague. Fig. 103. Fibrous tissue of the corium from the pustule (fig. 102). Fig. 104. The fibrous tissue (fig. 103) more highly magnified. Fig. 105. Particles of contagious bioplasm. ^ Fig. 106. Capillary retina, calf, cattle plague. Fig. 107. Bioplasts from villus, cattle plague ... ... ... ... ... 188

Plate XXVII. — Fig. 108. Vertical section of skin, cattle plague ; Vessels blue, showing papillae covered with their epithelium. Fig. 109. Papillae beneath eruption, cattle plague. Fig. no. Plan to show how contagious bioplasm may pass from the blood and reach the parallel layers of cuticular cells. Fig. 1 1 1. Young cuticular cells and masses of bioplasm. Fig. 112. Minute sporules of fungi, from superficial cells of cuticle ; Near eruption, cattle plague. Fig, 113. Cuticular cells under scab, cattle plague ... ... ... ... ... ... 214

Plate XXVIII. — Fig. 114. Connective tissue corpuscles, healthy. Fig. 115, Enlarged connective tissue corpuscles, cattle plague. Fig, 116. Capillary from mucous membrane, fourth stomach, cattle plague, injected with Prussian blue. Fig. 117, Small artery, with large mass of bioplasm obstructing its cavity, injected with Prussian blue... ... ... ... ... ... 218