PATHOPHYTES AND PHARMACOPHYTOLOGY. 



A, D. BUSH. 



Limitino- the present discussiou to what affects directly the 

 human body it may be stated that the vast majority of disease- 

 producing plants belong to the group of Schizophj^ta or fission 

 plants, of which the Bacteria are the most important. The Bacteria 

 may be 'classified mor])hologica]ly as Micrococci, Bacilli and Spiril- 

 lae, each of which has distinguishing characteristics and proper- 

 ties. The normal growth of these plants in such a favoring habitat 

 as is afforded by the warmth and moisture of the human body, is 

 accompanied by the generation of waste products of remarkable 

 toxicitJ^ If unneutralized, these products when absorbed by the 

 invaded organism become highly inimical to the vitality of several 

 tissues, especially those of the nervous centres. With some groups 

 the metabolic activity rapidly produces necrosis of the adjacent 

 animal cells, a process which, if taking place in the spinal cord 

 (as in infantile paralysis, for instance) rapidly produces severe 

 disturbances in correlated parts. In any case, but especially in 

 nervous tissue, the plant in its growth activities produces by both 

 mechanical and chemical means a violent inflammatory reaction, 

 locally, as the system attempts to protect the part from deleterious 

 foreign material. This reaction is accompanied by an exudate 

 whose mechanical pressure is an additional factor in lowering vital 

 resistance and in disturbing function. 



Briefly reviewing the several groups we find that among the 

 Micrococci the principal diplococcus is the one causing cerebro- 

 spinal meningitis. Streptococci are bacteria producing erysipelas, 

 puerperal fever, many nose and throat affections, middle ear dis- 

 ease, some of the more serious bone and joint troubles, and prob- 

 ably scarlatina and measles. The staphylococci are responsible for 

 various boils and abscess formations of both skin and bone. The 

 micrococcus lanceolatus produces lobar pneumonia and other seri- 

 ous infections of serous membranes. The gonococcus is the social 

 scourge and, aside from the general misery for which it is the 

 responsible factor, is productive of most of the blindness in the 



