The Longest War In Human History

Manawatu Times, Volume LIX, Issue 7471, 23 May 1934, Page 3

The Longest War In Human History

COMBAT BETWEEN PIGMIES AND GIANTS. “Man versus Bacteria’ ’ was the subject of an address to the Palmerston North Rotary Club ou Monday by Dr. H. R. Whitehead, of Massey College, and in it he told the story of the longest war in human history —the unceasing struggle between man and germs, in which the advance of science has played an increasingly important part. The war was one in which all were engaged; none could bo a conscientious objector, he said. Hospitals were constantly maintained to support casualties, and large sums wore spent on devising better ways of combat. The contest was one between giants and pigmies, but the struggle was by no means unequal. Sometimes the pigmies were victors. One of their strongest weapons was the rapid rate of multiplication—one germ dividing into two every half hour. Frequently the germ waged war on his enemy, man, by means of deadly poisons, and man’s efforts were directed chiefly to attacking the different varieties of germs. Not until comparatively recently were germs held responsible for the spread of disease. Not until 1670 did a Dutchman first actually see germs with the aid of his instruments. For sixty years or more it was commonly thought that germs originated by spontaneous combustion—life created from inanimate sources. Only with the work of such scientists as Pasteur was it seen that life could be created only from life. Pasteur spent a great deal of time in demonstrating that such changes as the souring of milk, the putrefaction of meat, and .tbo spread of disease, were caused by bacteria] activity. Only then did .the science of sanitation spring up. 'Man carried the .war into enemy country, lighting the germs in their natural habitat. By such methods the incidence of disease had been lessened. In the days when sewage and refuse were left to stagnate in the streets, it was easy to realise how disease spread. In the modern community garbage was scrupulously collected, and foodstuffs subjected to rigorous germ-combative control. The new knowledge was applied also to the practise of surgery. Hitherto, surgeons made no effort to prevent the entry of germs to a human wound, for they did not realise their danger. Today everything in the operating theatre was designed to exclude germs, and so now major operations wero conducted daily, whereas formerly the slightest operation was attended by grave risk. Once a germ entered a wound, the defensive system of the human body at once became operative. A wound offered congenial surroundings for the bacteria if they were left unmolested, but in the blood stream were hordes of white cells, which fought, the invaders and usually overcame them. Sometimes, however, the germs were particularly virile and bested the white “scavenger" cells. Even so, there was another method of defence, even after the germs had entered the body. Organisms i.*u»wn as antibodies confronted the bacteria, frequently overcoming them. Dr. Whitehead also dealt in interesting fashion with such preventative methods as the use of antidotes. There was every indication, ho said, that in the next few years this means would become effective in a greater number of diseases. The expectation of life had thus been materially increased. Medical science had lcarnct how to prolong life: it was to bo hoped that the social science .had learned how to prolong life; and enable men to lead a fuller as well as a longer life. Mr. L. G. Callis proposed the club’s thanks to the speaker. A welcome was extended lo Messrs. Masud and Haruo Doll (Japan).