THE INFLUENZA GERM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20962, 27 February 1930, Page 20

THE INFLUENZA GERM.

CLAIM TO DISCOVERY. EXPERIMENT ON MONKEYS. In every country in the world medical experts are now anxiously awaiting the result of final tests that are being carried out in Chicago in the hope that they will confirm thte claim that at last the dreaded influenza germ has been discovered. Dr Isadore S. Falk, of the University of Chicago, has announced that he has isolated the germ, and tha- he hopes to be able to prepare an anti-toxin that will kill the disease., He began Ms search for the germ in December, 1928, and had the assistance of 14 members of the Bacteriology Department at the University of Chicago. The band of research workers put in an average of 16 hours a day, and slept on their desks in order that they could get samples of all suspected germs before a local epidemic ran its course. They gathered species and isolated and tested more than 3800 different microbes in the first six weeks, gradually reducing them to eight general types. No fewer than l-o monkeys were used during the, experiments. Finally, the germ now claimed to be responsible for influenza, and known to medical science as Pleomorphic Streptococcus, was taken from.the blood of Miss R. A, M’Kinney, one of .the assistants. Dr Falk stated that the germ looked like a microscopic chain ,of ; unmatched; pearls which a child had strung together. “We hope,” he added,,“ to be able to perfect a vaccine from dead microbes of the germ, which may be absorbed through the mucous membrance of the nose and throat, and' thus effect a cure.” Ho explained that influenza itself does not kill, but that it so weakens the body, that It becomes a prey to pneumonia and other germs, which are always lurking witMd the human system. Many other workers have for years been in quest of the influenza germ, and valuable research work has been done by two London doctors, Dr David Thomson, bacteriologist, and his brother, Dr Robert Thomson, a physician. .According to Dr David Thomson nuch of the data announced by. Professor Falk has been ip their possession for some time, but his discovery that monkeys are susceptible to influenza is of inestimable importance. The two brothers adopted a photographic process in their efforts to isolate the germ. Three years ago Dr David Thomson fell ill with the infection, and he took photographs of himself. ; He. has since taken hundreds of photographs, and considers that these records establish definitely the germ that causes the disease, ‘'Streptococci,” Dr David Thomson stated in an interview, “ represent a par ticular group of germs which are'like dots growing together id a..curved chain. At one time there was a belief that .there was only one ; kind of streptococcus.' About four years ago, however, it appeared that there were really 18 varieties. By our work, my brother and I ate conyinced that there are. not a mere 18, but 100 varieties. Professor Falk has conducted Ms-in-vestigations on different lines, and his .discovery that the monkey can have influenza is of inestimable value. What we hope to establish is that the camera can be an essential apparatus in the rooting.of the ills which from time to time afflict mankind. 1 “If we can succeed in isolating the germ responsible for influenza, . I can see no reason why we should not succeed in isolating the, other germs in that string of streptococci. Therelis, no doubt that, as a whole, those hundred varieties are 1 responsible for a quarter of our troubles. It is already known, for instance, *hat scarlet fever, erysipelas, pneumonia, peritonitis, tonsillitis, and other diseases have a streptococci origin. : “ Rheumatic fever and many other forms of chronic rheumatism are suspected of having their origin there also. Once we can isolate the different species, of course, we shall be able tp produce, specific vaccines and serums to combat each of these diseases.”