The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-06-02


In view OF the appearance OF cholera, east west, and
south OF the city, although distance, induced
TO offer few remarks hoping i may be OF service to
who may be disposed to prepare any simple
means tending to render il much possible harmless
10 them. II is well known that chloride OF De prncI
pay the chlorine, powerful disinfectant, aud where
used properly hardly fails to protect the location
from conlaglon; hence its general use by medical
PERSONS and their great exemption from such dis
eases, although constantly exposed to II IN It's worst
forms. Chloride OF lime can be had a! almost all
apothecares, both u liquid and substance, and no
house should be without it whenever disease IS near
Its action is powerful in all the arts in which is 30 ex
ensively used as bleaching extraction OF colors, and
general naturalization of animal and vegetable matter IN
a state OF decomposition Metals, Also are powerfully
affected by IT, and several of them ignite and burn when
exposed to the gas This arises from the oxygen present
therein, which is the general supporter of life and com
bustion. Nothing live without oxygen. or burn
either. Animal and vegetable matter, in state OF de
composition requires oxygen largely TO complete the state
after which it is adapted to support the life of the vege
table IN new form adapted to It's use. Thus we md
for instance, IN new countries where lands are newly
turned up, that sickness prevails; also in the making of
canals and especially where the surface of the land has
dense vegetable matter the that absorbs the
oxygen OF the atmosphere to complete decomposition. 1t
has been frequently stated that cholera patients manifest
absence OF oxygen in the system, especially the blood
doubtless such is the fact in all contagious diseases what
and wherever All heat in the ANIMAL vegetable
or mineral kingdoms rapidly absorbs oxygen, and thus
renders the sphere around less conducive TO the support
OF lie. The object then, which should pursue should
be TO supply this vital gas whenever conag appears
begun, speedily increases There is doubt in my mind
but that from the moment patient becomes diseased,
decomposition commences rapidly through the system,
and all the pure oxygen received by 1t and converted
into pestllentia atmospherethus 1t so severe in
IFS immediate locality 1t would be WE'LL then, TO procure
such agents will give Oft oxygen and keep the atmo
sphere heahful equilibrium our houses and cities;
and most probably chloride is the most powerful to
complish it. But there other materials highly bene.
fetal to the end thus the volatile gases and pro-
ducts from gas works well known-so much so, that
those living hem and occupied in them seldom
known to be afflicted by any conas ous disease This
has been established in London and other large cities for
years past and recorded repeatedly by boards of health
and the medical examiners. No doubt arises from the
vegetable oil contained in the tar and the volatile oil,
which gives off great quantities of oxygen and carbon,
being condensed PARTICLES rahed by heat but condensed
by cooling; the efore all cities that have gas works OF
any kind in them, contribute largely the health thereof
do not hereby to say that gas works always give
pleasant, agreeable odor-that is another matter-but
they enhance the health of location and your cor
respondent believes that every house had few bottles
liquid volatile oil about the premises, and the
corks left out, the atmosphere would be kept
free from contagion and if disease were near little
poured in an open plate, and left here and there would
be still effective. The should be adopt
Ell ii chloride OF lime used Camphor, also,
ce producing similar results lis immediate oca
ton. L.