"K Medium"

A newly devised food for the artificial nourishment of germs, referred to at Northwestern University last week, promises to enlarge the study of bacteriology. One great problem of the science has to do with viruses. What are they? Are they germs too small to see with the microscope or the ultramicroscope? Are they germ poisons? Are they transitional forms which germs adopt? Whatever they are, they are a vicious nuisance, involved in such diseases as infantile paralysis, smallpox, measles, rabies, rheumatism.

Northwestern University at Chicago has Professor Arthur Isaac Kendall, 54, who except for a three-year recess at Washington University has been there 21 years. He is one of the top U. S. bacteriologists, with training and Work at Harvard, Canal Zone, Rockefeller Institute, New York City's studious Board of Health. He is a Doctor of Public Health, not of Medicine. Bacterial chemistry and metabolism had been the main fields of his research until he detoured to the study of intestinal bacteriology. That detour became a main road which led him to last week's pronouncement to some 300 scientists gathered on Northwestern's McKinlock campus.

Briefly, Professor Kendall has been able to show that bacteria may exist, and probably do exist, in two forms: 1) a visible form; 2) an invisible or filterable form. Apparently he can cause bacteria to change from one to the other at will. He has checked and rechecked his observations with different germs under varying conditions. With no exceptions, the changes have occurred.

The bacterial shift became possible only after Professor Kendall had invented a special food, or medium, for germs to grow in. The medium had to be very much like the food which germs find for themselves in a living body. The medium also had to be kept in a condition closely resembling the body environment.

Professor Kendall was not ready last week to explain the constituents of his germ food. He will reveal them after a fortnight so that other bacteriologists can duplicate his work, find fault with it or confirm it. Essential ingredient, however, of the food is the small intestine of man, swine, dog or rabbit treated chemically. The resulting stuff he calls "K medium." Scientists who heard Professor Kendall explain his work last week were prompt with applause. Dr. Irving Samuel Cutter, Dean of Northwestern's medical school (post which Professor Kendall held 1916-24) burst out with "This discovery is as startling to the scientific world as were the discoveries of Pasteur."

Dr. Edward Carl Rosenow, professor of surgical bacteriology at the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Foundation, isolator of what is thought to be the cause of infantile paralysis, almost shouted: "We have just listened to the revelation of a great discovery. Dr. Kendall has found a way to make bacteria take on a new form. That in itself is a great accomplishment in a lifetime. The future will show the greatness of his contribution to science."

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