VEGETABLES AND DISEASE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 45, 21 August 1926, Page 20

VEGETABLES AND DISEASE

CONTAINERS FOB GEBMS,

A highly interesting theory concerning the origin of all infectious diseases which affect humanity has been propounded to the Academy of Sciences by Professor D 'Arsonval, ' who is widely known for his research work on the cancer problem (reports the London "Daily Telegraph"). According' to the professor, the bacilli ol all infectious diseases are jiow identified, and he has found that they all have their origin in various kinds of foodstuffs which have become slightly mouldy or musty. A lettuce when slightly musty harbours the germ oi measles, musty potatoes convey small-pox, and foot-and-mouth disease, scarlet fever, and rabies are conveyed in carrots. Malta fever in oranges' and lemons, paratyphus in wheat and rye, diphtheria in barley, and typhus in oats. The professor, having pointed out the possible dangers of all these common foodstuffs, added the reassurance that there was little to bo feared so long as none of.them was eaten raw, since cooking usually destroyed'their malefieient properties. And, furthermore, all these things were safe enough when perfectly fresh. It was in a state of mustiness that they began to harbour deadly germs. It is suggested, however, that diphtheria might.be effectively fought by eradicating barley from children's food and by ceasing to employ barley straw as bedding for dairy" cows. The ravages of small-pox might be similarly reduced if care were taken that the potatoes figuring oh the family menu wereabove suspicion of mouldiness.