LONGER LIFE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 79

LONGER LIFE.

SEABCB FOB OLD AGE GERi». The theories of Professor Metehnifcoff, of the Pasteur Institute, that man would live longer and be healthier without any. large intestine, are being put to proof in an interesting series of experiments now* taking place at Gay's Hospital. Dr A. Disiaso, Professor MetcHnikoff'e assistant, who has been seat to London by, the Paste* Institute to conduct the experiments, recently explained his progress. "When studying cholera a few years ago,"

the doctor stated, "Professor Metchnikoff discovered that the intestines of the ordinary healthy man always contained a great number of varieties of bacteria. Some of these were found to be dangerous, because they formed poisons which were harmful to the body when absorbed into the system, and others are beneficial because- they hinder the development of the harmful germs. "In the lower, large intestine it was found that the harmful germs greatly predominated. Professor Metchnikoff therefore concluded that if a man's large intestine were removed he would suffer less from the intestinal bacteria poisons which, according to Professor Metehnikoff's belief, caute tlie common diseases of degeneration of the internal organs, of the body and generally bring on premature old age. The dilPculty was to find patients without large intestines on whom to test these theories. "Mr W. Arbuthnot Lane, the wellknown surgeon of Guy's Hospital, hae solved our difficulties Dy placing at my .. disposal some 30 or 40 patients whose large intestines he has removed for the relief of chronic intestinal obstruction. These patients have been going about alive and well for periods varying from r few months to five years, since their large intestines have been cut out. My work has been to compare the intestinal flora of these people with those found in the digestive tracts of normal people. "In the Wfeek I have been working I have proved* beyond doubt that in Mr Lame's patients many of the haajmful varieties of bacteria are absent, while those still surviving are in much lesser proportion than in normal individuals. "All animals (including babies) when born have perfectly sterile digestive tracts — that is, there are no germs growing in the intestines. Professor Met china koff believes that if we could preserve this freedom from intestinal bacteria -,we could greatly- prolong life, because the greatest cause of old age^ — the absorption of bacterial poisons in the intestines — would be non- existent. ''That it- is possible to exist without providing a culture bed within one's self lot the development of these poison-pro-ducing germs * hae been proved, at any rate, on animals. By feeding a pteropus, ! an Australian variety of bat, from birth on absolutely germ free food I have kept i its intestines free from all bacteria foi the ' four months of its existence. It is there- ! fore absorbing none of the poison which ordinarily are developed in thi intestines of these creatures, and I firmly believe •that, bar accidents, it will live to a much greater age than its fellows." Dr Distaso made the following list of harmful and helpful germt found in the ■ordinary person's intestines: — Friendly Bacteria. Harmful "Bacteria. JBifidiif Putrificus L»»ctis, Aerogenes Perfrangens | AH Laotia microbes Coli. "It is interesting to note," the doctor , concluded, "that no bacteria of putrefac- : tion (the variety which Professor Metchni- ! koff considers ihost active in bringing on premature old age) have been discovered so far in any of Mr Lane's patiente whose large intestines have been removed."