Germicide

“ The answer came from the famous Pasteur of Paris, and Lister of Edinburgh. “Filth is dangerous, because it is filled with germ life. The mere removal of filth from one locality to another does not render it harmless, except to those who are no longer in personal contact with it.” So-called filth was indeed harmless if the germs it contained were killed.
The whole scheme of sanitation was at once changed: agents that would kill germs were eagerly sought by many scientists, and germicides were found in abundance. ”

“ In the arts, any substance which arrests fermentation and decay; in medicine, any agent which arrests the development and growth of micro-organisms. A germicide is a substance or agency which destroys these micro-organisms. ”

“ Sterilization is the absolute destruction of all organic life, whether infectious or not; it is therefore more than disinfection, which destroys the germs of infection alone.
A Disinfectant is an agent which destroys germs of infection.
A Germicide is the same; an agent destroying germs.
An Insecticide is an agent capable of destroying insects; it is not necessarily a disinfectant, nor is a disinfectant necessarily an insecticide.
An Antiseptic is a substance which inhibits and stops the growth of the bacteria of putrefaction and decomposition. ”

“ Note.—Where it is necessary to leave the organisms in contact with a strong solution of the disinfectant for lengthy periods, some means must be adopted to remove every trace of the disinfectant from the bacteria before transferring them to fresh culture media; otherwise, although not actually killed, the presence of the disinfectant may prevent their development, and so give rise to an erroneous conclusion. Consequently it is essential in all germicidal experiments to determine first of all the inhibition coefficient of the germicide employed. ”

“ Within the limits of a moist perimeter the air is, to all intents and purposes, germ-free. Direct sunlight has a definitely germicidal effect in the course of time upon some of the most virulent bacteria we know. Here, then, are three examples of physical agents—low temperature, moist perimeter, sunlight—which, if strong enough in degree, or acting for a long enough period of time, become first antiseptics and then germicides. Yet for a limited period they have no injurious effect upon bacteria. ”

“ Most of these germicides are, unfortunately, poisonous to us as well; for, as you will remember, our bodies are made up of masses of tiny animal cells, not unlike the animal germs. Most of the germicides, therefore, have to be used against germs while they are outside of our bodies. ”

“ Formamint prevents and destroys infectious germ life in a soothing grateful way.”
“In the saliva it frees a germicide, fatal to germs but harmless to the most delicate membranes. And flowing into every tiny corner of the gums, tonsils and throat, into places where no gargle ever reaches, it most effectively disinfects the throat.”
The claims as to the preventive and curative effects of the preparation cover a large portion of the category of human ailments and distresses. The following quotations indicate some of its supposed properties:
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“ In cholera, intermittent and yellow fever, together with many other diseases of an epidemic and endemic nature, I have for many years believed that the true remedy will be found in germicides administered, not through the digestive functions, but hypodermically direct into the system, so that its actual contact with the germs shall insure their destruction, at the cost of some suffering, maybe not without risk, yet the only possible remedy. ”

“ Chemical Antiseptics. For practical disinfection, chemicals and heat need only concern us. The power of these substances is greatly decreased by heat, grease, oil, mucus, and even blood will cover germs with a coating which prevents chemical germicides from reaching them. Among the ordinary germicides, bichloride of mercury, iodin, alcohol and carbolic acid, are of the greatest importance. ”

“ Bacteria of these agents of more or less power, and they are used in the form of gases, liquids, and powders, according to conditions existing in individual205 cases. In general, it may be advised that, as bacteria are everywhere, germicides ought to be used far more extensively than they are for the purposes of securing not only the direct destruction of bacteria, but of removing or neutralizing dead matter, the food of bacteria. So minute are bacteria, and so adherent are they to material things, that mere bathing with water does not remove them, medicate it as we may with fancy soaps. ”

“ But why should not a germ disease be always fatal? If the bacteria thus take possession of the body and can grow there, why do they not always continue to multiply until they produce sufficient poison to destroy the life of the individual? Such fatal results do, of course, occur, but in by far the larger proportion of cases recovery finally takes place. ”

“ We have only to suppose that the pathogenic bacteria, when growing as parasites in man, produce such poisons, and we have at once an explanation of the method by which they give rise to disease.
This explanation of germ disease is more than simple theory. It has been in many cases clearly demonstrated. It has been found that the bacteria which cause diphtheria, tetanus, typhoid, tuberculosis, and many other diseases, produce, even when growing in common culture media, poisons which are of a very violent nature. ”

“ Naturally, the effort is to destroy these germs at the focus of infection, or to render the conditions in the body of the infected individual unfavorable for their development. When the focus of infection is superficial or within comparatively easy reach, as in erysipelas or diphtheria, local treatment with germicidal agents is often attended with favorable results. But when the deeper tissues and organs of the body are invaded, or the germ multiplies abundantly in the blood, but little can be accomplished by the use of agents of this class. ”

“ It is a common experience to see a malady transformed through the effects of heredity or acquired immunity, through environment or the temporary mitigation of virulence in the germ; and again we see the same disease, no longer restrained by such inhibitory conditions, bursting forth as a malignant and deadly plague. We have, therefore, no warrant for the hypothesis that a pathogenic germ which, under given conditions of life, has lost in pathogenesis, but not in vitality, should continue forever to exist as a harmless microbe. ”

“ One whose bodily activities are weakened by poor nutrition can offer less resistance. The question whether one shall suffer from a germ disease is not simply the question whether he shall be exposed, or even the question whether the bacteria shall find entrance into his body. It is equally dependent upon whether he has the bodily vigour to produce alexines in proper quantity, or to summon the phagocytes in sufficient abundance and vigour to ward off the attack. We may do much to prevent disease by sanitation, which aids in protecting the individual from attack ”

“ Methods of fighting Germ Diseases.—As we have seen, diseases produced by bacteria may be caused by the bacteria being directly transferred from one person to another, or the disease may obtain a foothold in the body from food, water, or by taking them into the blood through a cut or a wound or a body opening.
It is evident that as individuals we may each do something to prevent the spread of germ diseases, especially in our homes. We may keep our bodies, especially our hands and faces, clean. ”

“ In view of the diffusible nature of the germ, however, we must recognize that all secretions may be quickly contaminated as soon as they are exposed, and therefore no product of a sick or suspected sheep can be held to be safe, and all should be treated as presumably infected. The most dangerous products and those most liable to convey the disease are wool, hides, litter, buildings, yards, covers, parks, railway cars, boats, manure, urine and milk.
Living creatures like men, dogs, cats, birds, vermin, flies and other predacious insects are occasional bearers of infection. ”

“ The exposure of the conjunctiva of man and beast alike, to the germs borne on the dust or carried in liquids or on solids, renders this structure preëminently susceptible to infection, while the lachrymal and mucous secretions furnish a favorable culture medium. Fortunately in the lower animal the danger of infection is greatly reduced, since there are comparatively few opportunities for the transference of the germ through water, soap, sponge or towel, to which man is exposed, not only in public lavatories but even in private families. ”

“ Knowing the nature of the poison emanated by such patients, and studying the mode of its distribution through nature, we can prevent it from reaching others, and thus spare them the personal struggle with the parasite. In no instance has the benefit derived from a knowledge of the germ-theory been more brilliantly exemplified than in the principles of antiseptic surgery inaugurated by Lister. This benefactor of mankind recognized that the great disturbing influence in the healing of wounds is the admission of germs. ”

“ Thus the germ, bacillus, or microbe, as a direct cause of disease is an exploded fallacy. They are now recognized as the result of disease—not the cause: releasing irritants perhaps and possibly carriers or transmitting mediums to other diseased or predisposed organisms.
It follows accordingly that Sero-Therapy or Inoculation with specific serums derived from such germs, as a preventative of disease is simply a pernicious farce; "pernicious," since the introduction of such poisons by inocculation into the blood constitutes in itself a serious menace to life and health. ”

“ Of utmost consequence is it that the body's germ consumer—its pretorian guard—be always armed with vitality ready to vanquish every intruding hostile germ. If we are false to our guard, it will turn traitor and join invaders in attacking us. But here, as in dealing with evils that originate with human beings, an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure. The most effectual way to eliminate germ diseases is to remove the cause—the food supply of disease germs. The fact that many germs are plants, not animals, does not weaken the analogy, for weeds do not get a chance in well-tilled soil. ”

“ Modern, well-educated physicians know that many, in fact nearly all the ordinary ailments, are of germ origin. They also know, for instance, that a patient suffering from typhoid, or typhus, or some like disease, is continually reproducing these germs in immense numbers. For a physician with a full beard to lean over the bedside of such a patient is to invite millions of these germs to invade his beard, and wherever he goes he carries these germs with him and spreads the disease. ”

“ Conditions Favorable and Unfavorable for Germs.—Conditions favorable for germ life are supplied by animal and vegetable matter, moisture, and a moderate degree of warmth. Hence disease germs may be kept alive in damp cellars and places of filth. Even living rooms that are poorly lighted or ventilated may harbor them. Water may, if it contain a small per cent of organic matter, support such dangerous germs as those of typhoid fever. Fresh air, sunlight, dryness, cleanliness, and a high temperature, on the other hand, are destructive of germs. ”

“ They had been made upon pigeons with the bacteria of the swine-plague virus and their products. Since the demonstration of the germ theory of disease, it has become evident that there are three possible explanations of the action of these products: 1. Something is deposited in the body during the attack of disease that is unfavorable to the specific germ. 2. Something is exhausted which is essential to the development of the germ. 3. The living tissues acquire such a tolerance for the germ, or for a poison which it produces, that they are no longer affected by it. ”

“ Think of hog cholera, a germ disease; of tuberculosis, a germ disease; of stomach worms, parasites; of staggers, a mold disease; of abortion, a germ disease; and hundreds of like nature, all due to parasites and germs, disease agents that disturb and destroy [86] the delicate organs or exposed regions, as the case may be, regardless of age, value, or breed.
Of course, remedies and treatment are being worked out to meet these individual diseases as they occur. Nevertheless, the best treatment is prevention. It is far better to prevent than to cure ”

“ The disease bears as constant a relation to its contagium as the microscopic organisms just enumerated do to their germs, or indeed as a thistle does to its seed. No wonder, then, with analogies so obvious and so striking, that the conviction is spreading and growing daily in strength that reproductive parasitic life is at the root of epidemic disease—that living ferments finding lodgment in the body increase there and multiply, directly ruining the tissue on which they subsist, or destroying life indirectly by the generation of poisonous compounds within the body. ”

“ We have applied this also to the potato-bug, locust, and other insect pests, no victim being too small for the ubiquitous, subtle germ, which, properly cultivated and utilized, has become one of man's best friends.
"We have microbe tests that show us as unmistakably whether the germs of any particular disease--like malaria, typhoid, or scarlet fever--are present in the air, as litmus-paper shows alkalinity of a solution. We also inoculate as a preventive against these and almost all other germ diseases, with the same success that we vaccinate for smallpox. ”