Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-08-31

causes Of cpidcmcs, bailled ason has by a natu.
raj superstition, turned its troubled thong To the
invisible air for them, to offluvia from the dark
est subtcrraucuus cavcrns; others, more learned
have spoken of planetary Influences, and some
have attributed them to the various aspects of the
sun and moon,-thcir acccssions, perpendicular or
obliquc rr1diations, conjunctions and oppostions;
but Hpyocrdtes h2s said that our art was too lony;
our lives short; occasion too piccarious md our
knowledge Of Nature too limited to interpret her
laws in producing epidemic discasos and therefore
he resolved il at last intoilan inscrutablc piriac
AgcRcb-and at this day must confess that We
find it where the wise Grccian left it. Tho hue
initiating truth is the causes of the most RAPID and
formidable diseases absolutely unknown.
Some philosophical Physicians have supposed
that there certain original morbid poiSons
thrown into our dtmOs or r0por-sphcrc, at the
first creation, operating di,rdys III part
or other OF tho carth's atmosphere, produ-
cling. directly indirectly, various cpidemcal
diseases. But the casual operation of existing
causes is too nice subject for newspaper. L
have treated it elsewhere. Essay concerning
WhooPing Cough, 1882 Why certain dstem-
pcrs spread at ono time more than another: why
they are sometimes mild, and at other times severe,
has puzzled Physicians in all ages. We nave been
trying, during two centuries past, with tubes
of glass containing the heaviest of fluid to Disco
vcr by them the alterations in more subtle tubes,
aud more exquisite fluids, on the due temperature
of which health and comfort depend but
with very little We only know with
more certainty than the ancicnts that epideics do
not depend absolutely on heat cold, moisture or
dryhcss.
The Romans knew as little OF the causes of epi.
denies as the Greeks. They speak of the rubigo
or mildcw "a corruption of mal-dcw, or evil in
hucnce) which they imagined was inn
prcgnatcd with certain corrosive aud noxi-
Gus powers, causing cpidcmcs. The learn
ed Hoffman, who practiscd in Germany, be-
lcved in the pernicious effects of mildcw-or NAL
dew. He calls ut udide corrosirus-a very
corrosive dew-.wh:ch he says infested vegetables
III the year 1893, and that soon after many cattle
died, and then followed great mortality among
men. And this was the case in England about
that time, as well as in Germany. But this ought
rather to- be considered concomitant than q
cause.
The term CONSTITUTION of the air. and of the
seasons, used in of the reports, has been
criticised; and its accuracy gucstoncd but those OF
tho present day should consider that the words
constitution and speculation used by statesmen
ana money changers in different sense from their
original neutrality-suspicious. means the state
OF being, peculiar structure and connection OF
iris formingsa systcm.-The structure and tenn.
permanent of the human body VIC call its constitu-
ton, and in the like sense, speak of the con.
stitution state of the air, though hidden from
our sight yet evident TO We would here
remind the reader that the air VIC breathe is not
that pure, elastic fluid treated of by the experiment
tai philosopher, but n sphere or ocean of vapor
equally surrounding the whole globe and is replete
with the attcnuated PARTICLES of terrestrial and
aquatic things-an epitome of every terrcqueous
substance which this changing world affords.
lfthcn rotting cgetahles-putrefying animals
fumes OF volcanoes--mineral eXhaations, where.
ut some Observation-Disclosures after grca. earth
quakes-cNtcnsive foundations Of fresh water, or
of the great ocean, in itself world of animals,
from the smallest to the most enormous; if we
consider the corruption of unnterred bodies in
climates and moist regions, particularly when af
iictcd with war; 81 with the subtle particles flying
oil from more than we can cnumcrate or think OF
at one time all making constitution state of air
at certain times and paces--a compound offensive
to our lives; why wordcr if there should he return
cd from this aerial of every thing, and which
VIC arc obliged 20 breathe, whether good or bad
what wonder is it, say, if there should be return
ed upon us matter. virus, mal-dew, poison
pletc with the seeds of DEATH in tic form of ycou
feUer-pcSfilcnce, cholera mOrbuS mple spas
modic.
| We may rehearse, but we cannot explain. Hip
pocrates, who practiscd and wrote several -.
before life and immortality were brought to ligh
: %" 80" 80. was constrained TO refer the cause
of cpidcmics TO Dicinc agency.
| Leaving, are compelled, the subject of re
mote cause among the innumerable evidences OF
the operation of higher power than man, let III
say word on the exciting causes which may be il
the food in the situation, of living, or il
the mind, or IL the cooperation of all four. Bu
that cannot be done in this already too protractct
essay. b. w.
Cambridge, Aug 10, 1882.
| p. S. To tho qucs,on-What is Asphuria? Il
is privation of pulse, or when it beats weakly
and remissiy as not to be pcrccptblo by the finger
IL is accompanied with dcath-lke GOODNESS and un
consciousness and when there is not life enough
| Ielt to cooperate with any remedy Yet some
have been rcsusctated from it, in drowning.