Grouch Germ is Discovered

1910

New Form of Bacillus Particularly Active In Hot Weather Found in Kansas City

Kansas City, Mo. — A new germ, as yet unnamed, has just been discovered in Kansas City. It is a hot weather bacillus and affects young and old alike, being particularly noxious in adults, it is said, and producing a chronic case of what ordinarily is called the "grouch."

The discoverers of this germ are Dr. E. L. Mathias, chief probation officer, and his assistants, who constantly are making a study of human nature and, by the way, this particular bug is one which attacks human nature only.

"It is a hot weather bug," said Doctor Mathias, "and can produce the worst case of grouch in a short time that you ever saw.

"Just now we juvenile officers have little to do so far as the juvenile court is concerned, but we are kept busy as bees looking after what we call hot weather business.

"Somehow or other, this hot weather seems to 'peeve' everybody. It takes the form of grouch in adults and the form of what the grown-ups are pleased to call 'devilment' in children.

"A man lies down to take a nap of a hot afternoon. He is just tuckered out by the heat, he says, and a nap will straighten him out. Just as he gets comfortably settled, boys or girls in the neighborhood begin to romp, and, of course, they call back and forth, and the would-be napper is annoyed.

"Then the irate adult goes outdoors. He is hard hit by the weather bug. He loses his temper and gives the children a calling down. The bug, in turn, attacks the juveniles, and they answer back and make life miserable for the complaining one.

"About that time we got a call concerning a big disturbance. Some of the men go out, learn it is the same old story, and it is up to them to explain to the adult that children must play and that they can't be expected to conduct their game after the fashion of a Friends' meeting. They also lecture the children and take steps to restore the equilibrium of the neighborhood which is ravaged by the summer bug."

The juvenile officers have not gone into the investigation of the bug in scientific fashion, and as yet have worked out no cure.