Cellular toxins, or, The chemical factors in the causation of disease / by Victor C. Vaughan and Frederick G. Novy.

  • Vaughan, Victor C. (Victor Clarence), 1851-1929
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Cellular toxins, or, The chemical factors in the causation of disease / by Victor C. Vaughan and Frederick G. Novy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The time will probably come when the true test of the specific character of a germ will be made with the chemical products. A given bacterium may not multiply in the circulating blood of a dog, and failure to do so is by no means proof that the same organism might not cause disease in man ; but every germ which causes dis- ease in man does so by its chemical products ; and if these be isolated and injected into the dog in sufficient quantity a poisonous effect will most likely follow. In the study of the bacteria of the infectious diseases, the third and fourth of Koch’s rules have not been com- plied with in many cases, as has been stated, on account of the in- susceptibility of the lower animals. The majority of investigators, meeting with this difficulty, have been inclined to rest content with the first two rules, and to conclude that when a given germ is con- stantly present in a given disease and not found in other diseases, that it is the cause of the disease with which it is associated. In 1889, Vaughan suggested that in those instances in which the third and fourth of Koch’s rules cannot be complied with on account ot the insusceptibility of the lower animals, it should be shown that the germ can produce chemical poisons which will induce in the lower animals in an acute form the characteristic symptoms of the disease, before the proof that the given germ is the cause of the dis- ease be accepted as positive. The science of bacteriology has of necessity been largely founded upon morphological studies. Bacteriologists have given their time and attention to the discovery of bacterial forms in the diseased organism, and to observations of characteristics in structure and growth of different species of bacterial life. This is perfectly proper, but we must also study the physiology and chemistry of germs and until this is done we must remain ignorant of the true cause of dis- ease, and so long as we remain ignorant of the cause it cannot be expected that we shall discover scientific and successful methods of treatment. Suppose that our knowledge of the yeast plant was limited to its form and method of growth; of how little practical importance would this knowledge be. That the yeast plant requires a saccharine soil before it can grow, that given such a soil it produces carbonic acid gas and alcohol are the most important and practical facts which have been ascertained in its study. Likewise, the con- ditions under which pathogenic germs multiply, and the products which they elaborate in their multiplication, must be ascertained be- fore their true and complete relationship to disease can be understood. In saying that the morphological work upon which the science of bacteriology largely depends is inadequate, we wish that it may be plainly understood that we are not offering any hostile criticisms upon the great men who have done this work and who have formu- lated conclusions therefrom. The development of bacteriology has been in accordance with the natural law governing the growth of all