The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-13

detecting the cause Of Cholera and other


Process detecting the OF Cholera and other
epidsaairs.
II the source of cholera exists in the atmosphere 1t
occurs to me that by pursuing the process gwen below
may arrive at some knowledge respecting the cause
oil this mysterious disease and fact there seems to be
no reason why we may not acquire definite information
to the OF various other masmac and epidemic
diseases.
The atmosphere though consisting mainly of oxygen,
nitrogen and carbonic acid yet is charged with i'm
purtes, which IRON extreme dution escape the notice
oil our senses and are not detected eudOmetrical
perments Chemists, in Analysing atmospheric air. have
performed their experiments upon such small amounts as
could be contained in glass tube inch in diameter and
few inches in height Prior to Lebig's discoveries
agricultural chemists had inferred the existence OF ammo
MA in the atmosphere, although of it had been
found in analytical experiments upon air Lebg, by op-
Grating upon many hundred times the quantity usually
employed, proved the existence OF ammonia and its pro-
portion in the atmosphere. propose, therefore, test
the atmosphere by experiments upon immensely large
quantities. after the following method, viz Let air
pump, Or what would be much better, fan blower, be
kept motion by wind, water, steam other power,
and the air drawn from any district OF place IN which an
epidemic infection prevails. and forced through num-
Der of tubes into solutions of various chemical tests,
which may be selected either Unfortunately in
cordance with any particular chemical theory Water
holding various reagents IN solution, alcohol acids,
and variety of solvents, may be used ad hbitum;
and il the blower be kept in operation for hours,
days if desired it is obvious that thousands of gal
Ions, or even hogsheads, OF atmosphere may be sub
mitted to the action of tests solvents, and the differ
ence if there be any, the atmosphere Of certain dis
rcts, of healthy and unhealthy periods would
talny be discovered. his operation IS analogous 10
that performed by lungs through which diseases OF
this class impressed upon the body sDgle insp-
ration of infected atmosphere perhaps a hundred,
would not be sufficient induce disease; but by the long
continued and constant breathing of such atmosphere,
the blood is acted upon to such extent sufficient
amount OF morbhc matter enters the circulation as to de-
veop disease In the process proposed, the pump or fan
blower performs the part OF the lungs and the chemical
solutions tests the part OF the blood to receive and
tain either the masm ITSELF traces of its action. 1t
will be readily that the may be varied con-
siderably while the principle is preserved and II would
be interesting 10 note the difference between the atmo
sphere of night and day. 1t is well known to chemists
that few cubic inches OF seenous oxide dused in the
atmosphere OF large will induce in many persons
catarrh; and DIR. Prout In his Brldgewater
Treatise suggests that this analogous substances
dused in the atmosphere. though in very small quan-
ties, may Influenza and similar epidemics Berze
Illus allowed bubble the size of OF seenous oxide
to enter his nostrls which deprived him of the of
smell for several hours that he could not smell strong
ammonia and produced severe caarrh which lasted
several weeks When the cholera was in New York in
1882 Professor Gayle now Of the Patent once placed
Hospital for the purpose of conlensng the vapOr arising
from the infected atmosphere of the various wards 1t
consisted of inverted conca vessel filled with ice, and
dish under the apex OF the cone to receive the liquid
it condensed upon and down the sides OF the
sell A considerable amount of liquid was obtained but
it so excessively offensive to produce sickness
whenever he undertook to examine it, and he obliged
desist But in this instance there was, Of course,
concentration of the noxious exhaations and eiuva OF
sick chambers dying and dead bodes and it is probable
that difficulty risk would occur in collecting the
morbc matter directly frem the atmosphere and fixing it
in various solutions
If, by such process this. can gain any knowl
edge of the of cholera any other epidemic, we
NAV reasonably expect be able to mitigate it's
power and to devise certain means for its cure The
subject be well worthy the attention OF the gen
era and State governments OF public institutions,
it is not likely that private enterprise will undertake
CHAS. G. PAGE.