The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 51

NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN and The Nashville American, SUNDAY MORNING, JUNE 18, 1916. pilEpjy-Tv: Jrience findf the Germ of 1 1 LC- UL. AVV Mankinds Oldext and Mart Myxterioux Dixeaxe ui ui ui ui iiijurnrm, Bacillus Found in the Intestines and Lymph Vessels of Epileptic Sufferers by Dr. Charles A. L.

Reed, of Cincinnati Hercules Performing One of a display of Supernormal His Legendary Labors, "Smiting the Egyptians," Strength Characteristic of Epilepsy, Translated Vncient Greek Vase-Painting 2f if The Falling Sickness," Long neuevea to Be of Supernatural Origin, Now Proved an Infectious Malady Caused by a Bacillus from the Intestines xzmk Showing Hercules During an Epjlept seizure, throwing His Child Into the lames. One of the Typical Exploits That Caused the Disease to Be Known as "Morbus Herculeus." By Dr. John B. Huber Into Myth. the soil through human waste mat; tor and In view or the fact that its spores are highly resistant, and that they can and do survive ror long periods, there is strong possibility that the soil is the common source of infection' outside the body.

In this respect it is similar to the lockjaw germ. Dr. Reed shows from his study ot this epilepsy germ that it accumulates in the tissues and in the blood and lymph. Once within the biuod current these bacilli show a special affinity for the seu-sory and motor centres. When the accumulation goes beyond the point of endurance, we may have, first, a flash of unconsciousness with a minimum of muscular d's-lurbance, or none at all (petit mal) or, tecond, sudden and profound loss of consciousness, with violent convulsive disturbance, (grand mal) or, third, persistent and almost cotinuous seizures of the latter variety.

This twentieth century discov-cry of Dr. Reed's sheds an alto- Rights Reserved. ancients, Hippocrates, whose de scrlptions have never been excelled for picturesqueness, wrote: "The patient loses his speech and chokes, foam issues from his mouth, the teeth are fixed, the hands contracted, the eyes distorted, ho he-comes insensible. And these symptoms occur sometimes on the left side, sometimes on the right and sometimes on both." In the light of Dr. Reed's dle-covery it is most interesting to recall that, whilst many epileptics are people of just average intelligence, history records many names of epileptics of great genius, moulders ot human destinies, world-compellors.

The names of Caesar, Alexander, Mahomet, Napoleon, Byron, spring at once to mind, as illustrious But-ferers from epilepsy. Did the toxin, the poison generated by the Bacillus epileptlcUB, coursing through the the gray matter in the brains of those mighty men, leading thus to the evolution ot great schemes of state, of empire, of conquest? Is It possible that the course of human events has been dependent on the activity of a microscopic vegetable parasite Has the Fate of the World Depended on Fits? Was it much more than the flip of a denier whether Caesar who, as Cassius declared, had "the falling sickness," would "throw fit" or cross the Rubicon, thus convulsing the whole Roman world. Was it anything more than the toxtn evolved by the Bacillus epilepticus that produced those trance states during which Mahomet received those "revelations" which moved his followers to the making of such, awful history throughout three continents? Napoleon at Waterloo was reported to have been in a kind of lethargy. Was tills really an epileptic seizure, or perhaps a psychic equivalent, by reason of which the decision went to Wellington? And poor Byron; were his many and grievous shortcomings the result ot depravity, or only of the disease his features evidenced so It lias been shown by the examination of, the skulls of prehistoric an. both in the caves of Prance and Germany and In the caves ot Peru, that the skulls were frequently trepanned, and that bits of the skull-bone thus removed were worn as amulets and ornaments by many.

Dr. Broca, one of the greatest anthropologists, held that this dangerous and painful operation was performed for the cure of epilepsy, and he argues from the superstitious practices found in connection with it, that at that period, as well as long subsequently, these diseases were regarded as peculiarly the work of spirits. This use of trepanning lias come down even to modem times, aB a cure for convulsive diseases, being still in favor with Oceanic races, with the Kabyles of Algeria, and oven with the mountaineers of Montenegro. Dr. Broca also points to the fact that the shepherds of Lozere trepan siddy sheep, by taking the head of the sheep between their knees, applying the point of their large knife to the skull and turning It between the hands until a hole is made.

Undoubtedly the Idea ot opening the skull of human beings was connected with the superstition of a belief In possession by an evil spirit, which was thus allowed to escape from the brain. In fact, epilepsy has always had a semi-sacred character attached to It, and not only was It called "morbus sacer" in ancient Rome but also "morbus comltalis," because if anyone was seized with a fit ia the Forum the meeting adjourned' at once. gether new ana a vastly interesting light on that disease which, from the remotest antiquity, has been mysterious to human kind. Since whatever is mysterious and incomprehensible is generally feared, this disease has been dreaded as being either an infliction or a gift of the gods. Sufferers from it have been revered because they have been presumed during the epileptic seizure or trance to be in communion with supernatural powers all the more so because the epileptic, after his attack, is absolutely unable to recall what ho did or said or what was done during that seizure.

Thus epilepsy became known as the "morbus sacer," or "divinus," or "lunatlcus," or "astralis" or the "divine" or the "moon-affected" or the "star-affected" sickness. The mumblings and the ravings of the poor sufferers were supposed to be inspirations from on high, the voices ot spirits or of the gods themselves. Wherefore such epileptic utterances as were intelligible to those about the sufferer were deemed oracular and prophetic. One very suggestive name which the ancients gave to the disease was the "morbus Herculeus," because that typical hero of antiquity was supposed to have suffered thus. Indeed, since his time and up io the present day, many a strong man, powerful both mentally and physically, has been epileptic has been from time to time laid low by the "falling sickness." During the frenzy of the attacks Hercules performed many of his miraculous "Labors." It was doubtless while so attacked that he threw his own child into the flames, and ran amuck among friends and enemies.

While suffering from a convulsion an epileptic may commit almost any crime, and immediately afterward not know what he has done. Some Biblical scholars hold that King Nebuchadnezzar was an epileptic, when he threw himself on the earth and ate grass: that Saul, King of Israel, was epileptic, and that David was sent for to soothe him by his music, while suffering from attacks of this malady. Alexander the Great has been excused from many ot his excesses on the ground that he, too, suffered from epilepsy. How Epilepsy Is Described Exactly in the Bible. In the New Testament wo have an account repeated in three of the Gospels of how Jesus healed a child of epilepsy, which is described with all the modern symptoms of gnashing the teeth, falling to the ground and foaming at the mouth.

What appears clearly to be a case of epilepsy is thus described in St. Matthew, chapter 11-18. "And when they were come to the multitude, there came to Him a certain man. kneeling down to Him, and saying, "Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatic and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. "And Jesus rebuked the devil; and ho departed out of him: and the child was cured from that hour." The same episode is described with even more detail In St.

Mark, Chapter IX, verses 17-27, When we conic to the early days of the Christian era and to the middle ages we find epilepsy called the "morbus demonlacus," because the sufferers were believed to be possessed of evil spirits. If we observe the nature of the epileptic fit, we can easily understand how in ages vast the epileptic was so revored or so feared. The great physician of the DR. CHARLES A. L.

HEED, ot Cincinnati, a distinguished medical scientist, has discovered the germ that causes epilepsy, "the falling sickness," that strange, mysterious malady whicn was believed by the ancients to be directly associated with gods or devils. And thus has he added to the ever lengthening list of maladies which a generation ago probably nobody imagined to be infectious, but which are in reality of bacterial origin. Wo have, no doubt every one of us, at one time or another, seen a sufferer in an epileptic lit. This conies on by reason of Irritation of the cortex of the brain, the outer layer, the gray matter of the brain. It is in the brain cortex that we do our thinking; and In this gray matter are lodged the nerve centres from which the motions of our limbs, and indeed, of all our bodily muscles are directed.

And the epileptic fit is really a kind of brain storm, a manifestation of Intense congestion in the cortex, which is relieved in the fit, very much as an overwrought, highly emotional woman feels better after a good cry. fhe Three Types of Epileptic Seizures. According to modern science, there are three types of epilepsy, tailed the "Grand Mai," the "Petit Mai" and the Jacksonian. In the first the sufferer usually utters1 a loud scream at the beginning of the convulsion, but this is by no means a voluntary cry, being caused by the convulsive action ot the muscles of the larynx. The eyes roll wildly, the teeth are gnashed together and foam, often tinged with blood, issues from the mouth.

In this condition the sufferer is said to be seized with furor epilepticus, when he may commit any and every act of violence, even murder, and when the fit is over, have no' recollection whiUever of his deeds. This is what is known as epileptic insanity, and the victim is in no way responsible for what has been committed under uncontrollable impulses. Where the patient suffers from the "Petit Mai," there may be very slight or no convulsions, but the disease is there and is working upon the mentality of the victim roost insidiously. In either or both of these types of epilepsy there no apparent physical degeneration, but the mind is being worn away so that Anally dementia may set in. The third type, the Jacksonian epilepsy, is usually due to pressure on the brain, either from a tumor or some injury to the skull, caused by a blow, and in such cases operations usually bring about a radical cure.

The attributing of a sacred character to epilepsy is most probably due to a unique phenomenon, that just prior to the attack the patient feels what lias been termed an "Aura," the rush of a aensa-tion from the lower part of the body towards tile head. During this time of "glow" all kinds of. dreams and hallucinations come to the "patient, which in ancient times were considered inspirations of good spirits or possession by evil demons. Modern science, of course, rejects any such ideas, and has long nought the cause or causeB of this terrible malady. It has been attributed to consanguineous and to alcoholic overindulgence, and has been set down as hereditary.

An entirely new Held of investigation has been opened by the remarkable discovery of Dr. Reed and his successful isolation of the bacillus epilepticus. He aims to prove that it is no more hereditary than tuberculosis, but that the transfer of the disease from one generation to the next lias been due to the passing of the bacillus from parents to children, because of lack of proper precautions. In his report to the Cincinnati Medical Research Society, Dr. Reed explains, that with the assistance of his laboratory assistant, Dr.

E.P. Hyatt, he has found the bacillus epilepticus The "Evil Spirit" That Troubled Saul, King of Israel, Is Now Believed to Have Been Epilepsy. In This Conception of tKe Artist Shows One Type of Epileptic Face. in the blood of epileptic patients and In no other blood. He also has found this organism in the cecum (the pouch between the large and small Intestines), the appendix and lympathie glands when he has operated upon epileptics, In fact, he began his discovery with the interesting observation that epilepsy was moBt common In persons who suffered from in testinal inactivity.

He concludes that the cecum of epileptics is tiie constant habitat ot tile organism, that the lymph channels are the highways of its transit, and that the blood Is its final destination. After Isolating the bacillus, Dr. Reed found that it was a spore-bearing organism, and could be propagated like other bacilli. He found that when ho kept at a temperature of 98.6 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, in bouillon or agar-agar, the bacilli showed evi dences of multiplication in from two to five days. Dr.

Reed found that these bacilli are more frequent in the blood of epileptics immediately preceding or at the moment of seizures, showing 'that the bacilli are the Immediate cause of the convulsions. Experimental study of the organism was made on rabbits by intravenous inoculation, intraperitoneal Injection and administration by the alimentary canal. By these methods the bacillus was introduced into the blood directly or found its way into the syBtem when swallowed. When injected into the ear-vein of a rabbit, on the second day the rabbit was seen to act peculiarly, as If confused. The next day it had a recognizable convulsion followed by stupor.

After this the convulsions were more frequent, coming on suddenly. The animal would fall on its side, in a stato of unconsciousness. As it fell it would emit a peculiar sound, "half cry, half choking sound." During the period of unconsciousness, which was complete, there were staring of the eyes, the head turned to one side, the muscles of the neck twitched and there were alternate contraction and extension How the Which Died of Epilepsy Germs Were Injected Into Rabbits the Disease in Seven Hours to Ten Days Prehistoric Skull, Upwards of 20,000 Years Old, Found in Cave of Les Combarelles, France, with Hole Showing Trepanning Operation Performed by Earliest Man to Relieve Epilepsy immunity to the germ was possible. A rabbit infected only intravenously, at first showed the typical convulsions, but a little later the seizures decreased in violence, and afterwards stopped altogether. This spontaneous recovery appeared In several rabbits.

Dr. Reed concludes that the alimentary canal is the chief, it not the oxclusive, starting place for the Invasion of the system. lie also cites two cases of physicians who attended cases of epilepsy and contracted the disease, holding that It came about through absorbing some of the germs. He adds, that inulaniinntion rather than heredity is responsible for many, if not all cases of supposedly inherited epilepsy. The fact that it is a spore-bearing bacillus and that the spores are among the most resistant yet discovered, adds to the obvious danger.

In a non-nutritive wet medium they have survived under observation for quite four months without evidence of diminished vitality. In view ot the fact that the organism demonstrably reaches by the Star Company. Great Britain of all four legs and feet. This would last from three to live minutes, after which the rabbit would lie in a stupor for from fifteen to twenty minutes. On the fourth day a direct smear revealed the bacillus In the blood.

The rabbit into whose peritoneal cavity some of the culture was Injected died seven hours after the Injection, but as none of the organisms had made their way into the blood it was plain that the cause of death was the absorption of the toxins into the system. One rabbit that licked the blood from the ear of a rabbit which had just been inoculated with the bacillus epilepticus developed convulsions and died in ten days, proving that the organism reached the blood through the alimentary canal. Tills was further demonstrated by the fact that rabbits developed epilepsy when confined in cages which were purposely kept foul with discharges of anitials in which the alimentary canal had been Infected with the organism. They had taken food which had como In contact with the Infected discharges. It waB ascertained by continued experiment that a kind of natural Copyright, 1018,.