MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 
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disease. In this the genius of Pasteur was far ahead of his day, for 
fully a quarter of a century passed before the transmission of a second 
protozoal disease, namely Texas fever was revealed. Furthermore, the 
recognition of the mode of spread of the disease together with other 
facts acquired enabled Pasteur to put a permanent check upon the 
progress of the disease. 
The suppression, if not extinction, of disease of parasitic origin, is 
obviously the chief motive which underlies all investigation of patho- 
genic organisms. The investigator himself may not realize the fact, 
and indeed be quite unwilling to accept such an interpretation, but 
nevertheless in his innermost self he hopes that his work may lead to 
some practical result in alleviating suffering; directly, if it concerns 
disease of man or beast; or, indirectly, in improving human conditions 
where the studies deal with problems of husbandry. The border-line 
between pure and applied science becomes, as a rule less definite the 
more closely a science touches the every day affairs of mankind. Thus, 
it is, that the work of Pasteur, a follower of pure science, opened up an 
era of human progress which in a large measure has already given man- 
kind masterv over the living causes of disease. 
MALTA FEVER. 
The practical extinction of Mediterranean or Malta Fever affords an 
example of more than ordinary interest. The organism responsible for 
this disease. ( Micrococcus melitensis ) was discovered as early as 1887, 
but the mode of transmission was not cleared up until about five years 
ago. At first, supposed to be restricted to the harbor of Valetta, the 
disease has since been recognized in nearly all Mediterranean ports, 
and, indeed, in many parts of the world. The fact that its army and 
navy paid a constant and heavy toll to this disease eventually caused 
the British Government to send a special commission to investigate the 
disease. In 1907 after three years of study the Commission success- 
fully concluded its work. How well they succeeded will be realized 
when it is said that while formerly more than GOO soldiers and sailors 
in Malta were sent annually to the hospital, to remain there for an 
average period of four months each, the very first year in which pro- 
tective measures were enforced (1907) the number of cases fell to seven 
all told. 
How was this remarkable result brought about? The specific organ- 
ism was known to be present in the blood of the patients, but that it- 
self was not enough. It was necessary to find out whence it came, how 
it got into the body and how it left the body. It was easy enough to 
demonstrate that the organisms left the body principally through the 
kidneys. It might also leave the body by means of blood sucking in- 
sects but the supposition that the disease could be spread in this man- 
ner (as in the case of malaria, yellow fever, etc.) could not be verified 
by experiment. Mere contact with the sick, or the inhalation of the 
dust of infected quarters did not cause the disease. On the oilier hand 
it was soon learned that the disease could be given to monkevs bv in- 
jection, or, what was vastly more important by feeding even a small 
number of the germs. The indications therefore pointed strongly to 
the food as the vehicle and to the alimentary canal as the avenue of in- 
