INFLUENZA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17146, 31 December 1929, Page 11

INFLUENZA

ISOLATION OF .GERMS PROFESSOR FALK'S CLAIM ■- LONDON, Dec. 14. The announcement by Chicago University that Professor Talk lias discovered and isolated the influenza germ is given prominence in London newspapers, and many press representatives have interviewed prominent bacteriologists on the subject The bulk of the comment is cautious, but all recognise the far-reaching importance of the discovery if further details endorse the early statements.

The llarley Street brothers, Drs. David and Robert Thompson, isolated one influenza germ in 1926, and they have since carried out further research, using rabbits for inoculation purposes. Professor Falk, however', used monkeys, which the Thompson brothers consider more satisfactory. The medical correspondent of the Daily Telegraph writes: "It may well be that further details will satisfy us thai Professor Palk's discovery will stand all the tests recognised as essential before a particular bacterium is accepted as the cause of a particular disease. If so, there will be good cause for rejoicing, for if the essential germ is found it should not be long 'before vaccine is obtainable to prevent and cure the disease. Until further details are received the report should not be permitted to arouse more .than devout hope." The Daily Telegraph continues: "Every scientific worker knows that influenza bacteriology is highly complicated. There are many 'forms of bacteria which may be isolated. It is not known yet whether, i,f a germ causes influenza, every epidemic, is caused by the same species of germ. The symptoms in different epidemics vary 'widely. Even if Professor Falk's germ'is proved to he the cause of one variety, it is not certain that it causes all. "One thing is certain, however, if Professor Falk has discovered,the true cause of influenza he has bee;\i*us lucky as he has been industrious. • He has only been working for a comparatively few months, while others have been working for years. At least one London hospital lias been working at nothing else for the last three years ■without reaching any definite conclusion. Naturally these workers, as well as the world at large, need definite proof that the germ described as the cause of influenza is entitled to that description." There has been much controversy during the week-end concerning Professor Falk's reported discovery. The position is best crystallised in the statement of the brothers Drs. Robert and David Thomson in the Daily Telegraph. They say they discovered the germ three years ago, and had since •worked secretly.

Professor Falk's germ is apparently the sains as theirs, but the great difficulty has always been to reproduce the disease in man or animals by this germ in pure cultures. Seemingly, tin; discovery of the missing .link in the chain is the most important part of Professor Falkfs work. Even so, it is at present rash to imagine that all 'types of influenza colds are due,to this particular streptococcus. The Thomsons will not publish their research for at. least another year.