Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-03-24

uiuon' from this statement II appears, that in
stead Of there being surface of so 600 SQUARE n of
flat roof, at the University there are opiv 40 600
and that by far the greater part of this in such
state, as to be unquestionably incapable OF pro-
duciug fniasmata. That even that is dccayine >
VIII not be denied; all wood, exposed to weather,
IN time decays; and may, therefore, at all times
be properly said TO be . decay,ng.' But whilst il
remains apparently firm and sound, and cfcc,,al
to answer the purpose for which il has been used
tits certainly not in that state OF decay If there
Do such possible state. to produce disease. A
small part, say or 5000 feet, is admitted to be
unsound tho Of this even, il is believed not 500
feet will yield to the pressure OF the foot; and the
question arises, whether this quantity of decayiny
plank can have produced the fever w hch pre- walls
have no hesitation in affirming III. confident be-
Nef, that It has not the most remote CONNIE xion
with it. Let il be borne in mind, that this plank
does not constitute the effective covering Of the
dormtories, nor its decay in any manner, render
them liable to leak; for under it, are successive
ridges Of shingles with tin cutters betw Gen. FORM
ing the real roofs TO these buildings; and which,
as Tar as could ascertain, are in good state of
preservation. We have only TO enquire whether
this plank, from the operation Of heat and n,ois.
fure, 10 likely to have produced the delete rious
effects imputed to it. am satisfied that it has not
by considerations which cannot fail 10 convince ev
cry impartial mind.
The quantity Of plank in that State, from which
miasmaa might possibly arise, is too small to have
operated extensively and powerfully; the effec,
has been dsproportioncd to the cause.-Two of
the lines Of fat roof, have been repaired in the
course Of two years. Previously. to their being
repaired, there was about as much plank in a de.
cayed state, AZ there is now; and as like causes
produce like effects the same epidemic should
have then prevailed. But, until now, it has never
done so.-The plank in question was seasoned be-
lore 1t was used 1t has no sap in it, of ex
halaton. To such vegetable decompositions, /
cannot suppose the medical authorities referred to-
apply. II they do, il is manifest that as the same
cause exists in every town and village, and on al
most every farm where the houses are constructed
Of wool, or where there is clearing by the mere
killing Of the larger trees, as is frequently the
case. the same fever should be expected to pre-
vail, not at particular seasons, or in particular
places but at all times, and throughout the whole
country. Or, If not only the decay of wood. but
the decay Of it, in the precise situation in which il
is at the University, be held necessary TO sustain
my argument, would desire TO be informed WHY
the same fever has never occurred at Monticeio
where, as Civis probably knows, there are extern.
alve terraces-or lines of flat roof-smar be-
lieve in all respects as well in constructions as the
kind Of plank used to those at the University
Every one who has visited these, knows Too, that
they are now, and have been for years de-
caying; and, indeed, that part Of them has long
ago reached more advanced stage of decay than
almost any at the University.
But, II all have urged, as inducing me utter
Iy 70 disbeIieve in the cause assigned, were 10
vanish, or be deemed insufficient still there is an.
other, which, Of itself, would Justify NV incredu-
lity Sand must satisfy ALL This is not the season
OF the year lat which the supposed cause could ope
rate During the greater part OF the time that
this fever has prevailed the weather has been in
tensely cold-water, wherever it has fallen, has
congeaed; the pores Of living trees have been clos
ed-the moisture in decayng timber, has given
1t hrmness-and exhaiations of all sorts have ceas-
ed. In such a season, the stagnant ponds of the
lower Countrywide extensive swamps of the Mis-
eissppi-even the Pompiine marshes of Italy,
though sften, producing malaria aud masmaa,
desolating the countries around, cease to send
forth their destructive effiuvia, and arc surround.
ed by as pure an atmosphere, that which circu-
lates on the summit of the Alleghaney. To say,
then, that parcel of decaying, sapIess planks
have oecasoned tls disease, at such lime is pre-
posterous.
by facts as the writer believed. Even tho the ex-
empton Of the Professors families from this fever
would have furnished the confirmation of il, which
ne supposes, in point of fact, he was misnformed,
IN regard to their having been so exempt. In.
stead oil one, he thought, three Professors fam
lilies have been visited by it, and nine cases have
occurred in those tiree-two Of which have been
among the worst to recover. Among the Stu
dents, there have been, am informed, twenty
cases. There are forty white members in the
families of the nine Professors, and about 100 Stu
dents living within the University. II is thus
shewn that in the pavlions, the proportion OF ca
ses has been as to nearly-aDd in the dorinito-
ries as to5. Two cases have also occurred in the
heard, at the date of his communication, of which
one has terminated fatally. That the Students
residing in the neighborhood, have escaped, is adj
United; but am really at a loss TO perceive, how
that circumstance can be held TO confirm the wri-
ter's views. 1t only proves, that there is some
local canse of disease existing at the University,
(Which no one doubts0 from the inifu,nc Of
which. they have been exempt, because not with
IN Its sphere. But ii in manner enables the
most astute enquirer, to designate that cause. II
may be the hours Of dieting, sagacous gen.
tleman has suggested, or it may be the decaying
plank, as Civis thinks, il may be neither, as
believe.
Having -hewn, as I hope I have done, that the
hypothesis Of Civis, whatever credit he may at
1ch to IL, does not merit the faith of others, IL
may be supposed incumbent on me to advance
more plausible one. Such was not my purpose in
replying to him, nor shall | attempt it. do no,
possess enough of fancy, TO invent explanations Of
what is inexplicable, and | am content to have
contributed my aid to explode theory, which,
though not SO intended, certainly calculated,
ii believed, TO nfict deep and lasting injury up
on an Institution, in the prosperity of which, Qlo
in no way connected with it,) |, in common, |
trust, with my fellow citizens generally, feel the
utmost interest.
Civis has wei remark ed, that from the occa-
siOnai occurrence Of this disease, the most de-
cidediy healthy situations are not wholly exempt
In illustration Of the truth of this observation,
would state, that few years ago, il prevailed in
very mortal degree, in the family of Mr.. Madi-
son, notwithstanding the established saubrity oil
the situation, and without any visible or known
circumstance that could account for IT, 1t is also
fact,that within few years, it has visited soil
tary family, dwelling the summit Of Peters's
Mountain, the Chimborazo Of our Lipuan An
des, where all the known atmospherical and local
causes, instead of explaining the phenomenon,
ought TO have been safeguards against il.
Should lot the observation OF Civis, and the ex