The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-20

| The editor oil the Morning fourier ~ enga
ged in producing a series Of articles on the eau
ses Of epidemics. In the discussion of this in
teresting subject, he manifests unusual research
and ability. He is very decidedly Of opinion
that malaria is the cause Of epidemics, cholers
included, and refers TO a large number Of fact
aud authorities in support Of his position
There is no fact better established than that the
Asiaiic cholera seeks its victims principally in
those localities most exposed TO malarous infiu.
ence. Our neighbOr makes the following ex-
cellent suggestions, which We hope our citizens
generally, as well as those who are entrusted
with the supervision of our streets, will attend
to:-Joarrlai.
Cleanliness, universal cleanliness ia the
person, in houses. in the adjacent grounds,
sewers, streets. alleys. in every place where
malaria can form, will Of course exempt
the place thus thoroughly cleansed, from all
malarious disease. There must be no reli
anee upon any halfway measures, because
they will do more harm than sood--s spu-
rious case OF vaccination is worse than none,
because it gives an idea of security where
there is none. And so with halfway meas.
ufes of cleanliness. The laws against throw.
ing filth into the streets, and for the regular
removal Of it from all houses should be dill.
igently enforced. Where a family is per.
mitted to accumulate filth in their own lot,
they breed pestilence whose ravages are
not confined to themselves; therefore all
should be made to cleanse their property
most thoroughly. An important thing to
be attended to, where an epidemic of ma
laria is prevailing, is to guard against going
out in the night, but. if forced 10 20 out, &C.
tive exercise is important while exposed
A par, Of this doctrine was taught in the
epdernics Of the fourteenth century, &C.
coIding 10 Hecker. Another safeguard is
not to leave the house in the morning with
empty stomach-some food should always
be taken. These facts are mpressively set
forth in Professor Caldwell's prize essay on
malaria. If these things are attended to
much will be done in mitigation Of disease.
If thus city were once thoroughly cleansed,
there would be but little difficulty in keep
ing il in a healthful condition. Eternal
is said 10 be the price Of liberty;
1t may be more emphatically said to be the
price Of health. We pray the attention Of
the city authorities and Of the citizens to
these important points. II the citizens do
not lend willing hands to these measures,
the city authorities can do nothing. OF one
thing all may be assuIed--if these meas.
ures are seriously attended TO, il is utterly
impossible that cholera can prevail in Lou
isville-neglect them and the misioIlunes
that have seized other cities will certainly
visit ours. The pestilence will come skulk. |
ing through our suburbs, filthy alleys, eel.
lars, and back yards, some night when we
least expect it. Cholera was very severe in
the dirty, ill-ventilsted Arch street prison in
Philadelphia. where personal cleanliness
was not attended ton the Eastern peni-
Tertiary, in which different state Of things
prevails, such was not the case. When
DIR. Mott stood among the oriental cities
and saw their filth and squalor, he felt no
surprise that they were scourged with pest.
lence. Why should We expect to escape
disease while we disregard all the laws OF
health
An invaluable method Of guarding against
the action Of Malaria, which we found uni
versally useful in 1882 and '33, was in get.
ting families to lodge in the upper rooms
of their dwellings. We know Of instances
where the servants Of one family were made
to sleep in the attic, and among whom there
was not an attack, while the servants in the
basement stories adjoining the houses refer.
red to, were carried off with cholera
Whatever may be the nature OF malaria,
there is abundant proof that it is much
heavier than atmospheric air, and that its
malign influence cannot rise higher than
forty feet perpendicularly. 1t can be car
ried some distance by the wind, but il al.
ways shows its effects near the surface of
the earth. 1t cannot cross water because il
is readily absorbed by tive have shown
that it is entirely destroyed in passing
through living vegetation, and lime has
perfect control over it.