The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-07-27
MISCELLANEOUS.
f From the Newark Daily Advertiser.
Conditisa Of the Atnlesphsre. -Chslsra.

Condhtton 81 the AtulospheEes-ChoAerAs
Articles have from time 10 time appeared in the news
papers, ascrbng the general prevalence Of the cholera to
some change in The composition OF the atmosphere In
one Of these was quite positively asserted that the air
differences dung the period when this disease ragged with
the greatest intensity think you may put mark OF
doubt against all statements OF this kind has been
ments that 80 far as gaseous constitution is concerned
air Of the novel Or he palace The air 81 the town The
spreading and malignant disease The only fact Of in
erest which has to my Knowledge heretofore been made
known, is that recorded by Dr. Pront the celebrated
lytcal investigation IN an extensive series Of expert
ents on a1osphegc air, which ne conducted at Lon
don from the 10th II December, 1881, 70 the 24th
Of February the weight OF the air incfeased, and du
ring the whole time that the experiments were subse
qusn,y continued the sir almost uniformly possessed
poyed and the taken, the same throughout,
and there seemed be no doubt that the difference.
whatever depended on really existed and dd no. arse
be explained, says Dr. Prout, it dlfhcu 70 form
conjecture but perhaps il may be worth while 70 OBJ
serve that almost precisely 4 ne period above %sn menu.
continued for considerable times and that under these
circumstances the epidemic cholera first made its appear
ance in London 1t would seem, therefore, as ii some
heavy foreign body had been dused through the lower
regions Of the atmosphere about this period, and which
was somehow or other connected with the disease IN
quesuOn liss
These observations, although curious, have led to no
definite views in regard to the connexon between cpl
demic diseases and the peculiar state Of the atmosphere
Bezeus and others have suggested that some compound
of seenum may be occasionally present in the air. SO as
cause epidemcs-an idea which is rendered plausible
BY the powerful action which at least combination OF
the substance exerts the animal economy But the
proportion Of such foreign bodies in the air must be very
mnuteso minute indeed, have euded the most re-
lined and accurate experiments, long continued daily re-
peaied and conducted with all the skill Of the best exper
menter and all the appliances Of the best furnished lab
oratories.
Ii these statements true, il reasonable to suppose
that with few experiments, and these perhaps rudey
conducted any light be thrown upon this confessed
~ reconcile subject, trow not do not BY any means
intend that there may not be some be-
tween the OF the atmosphere and epidemic diseases
but simply express the opinion that its nature can be
elucidaied only By most accurate and prolonged series
OF experiments After all, the expdmenter may be con-
strained acknowledge that the best chemists Of Europe
have thought 10 be dsparagement to them or to their
science TO say that the connexon any exists. of too
subtle nature to be determined BY the instruments OF
research which they have now at command.
have w0id two TO say In regard 70 the much
talked of ozone which shall reserve for future com
muncaon should you think the matter of sufficient in
ierest. Yours, truly, L. u D.
RuTcER's CoLLEGE, July 10, Is49.