A NEW WAY TO KILL THE MICROBE.

Evening Star, Issue 11893, 22 May 1903, Page 8

A NEW WAY TO KILL THE MICROBE.

Most germicides are more or less poisonous to the human organism, and therefore the destruction of bacteria in food and ' drink by the addition of powerful antiseptics is not available. It is w<£l known, however, that certain physical agencies exert a germicidal action, as, for example, light, electricity, and Beat, * and to these ; must be added the curious influence of mechanical shock. According to a number of interesting experiments on this point, says the 'Lancet,' there can be little doubt that the vitality of lower organisms is influenced by agitation, even to the extent of total destruction. Thus, by submitting to violent agitation certain bacterial cultures it has been found that the number of germs diminished to less than one-tenth of that originally present. Ultimately, by prolonging the treatment, the liquid was entirely freed from active germs and failed to develop further organisms, even when placed under fuvorable conditions. By adding some' glass beads to the bacterial culture the effect was more prompt, the' liquid rapidly becoming sterile. In another experiment abacterial cultures were allowed to stand in an engine room of a large manufactory in which an incessant vibration was produced by the stroke of the engine, with the result that after four days the vitalitv of the germs was completely destroyed," while in the control samples which were left in a, quiet place the germs, it was found, had retained their activity. It would appear from this interesting experiment that minute vibrations have the power of hindering the growth of micro-organisms as well as violent shocks, while if either treatment be continued the germs at length die. Hie reason why the vitality of the cell zs thus cut short is not quite clear, but apparently the cells cohere and form a palpable powder.