Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-19

into the causes Of crsnism and Ro,re and h
Of preserving from this disease the population of dis
ncs n which it known 10 be endemic The commtte
Of the Academy which the paper Of Dr. Grange was 70
fened has made its report which seems to me of sufi
cent general interest merit mention in your columns
The hdeous mslady unknown some portions Of III
United States and the dissemination there Of the views
this eminent French physician upon the Of the goe
its and prevention, backed they by favor
able report Of the Academy Of Sciences Of Paris may be
highly useful and phlsnlhropic work. The Fundamental
proposition Of Doctor Grange touching the Of gor.
and creHism is this that the only difference that b
discovered between localities afflicted with these diseases and
those exsmp, difference in the geological constitution
the soil and without exception, far investigations
have extendedand they have been prosecuted in various
countries and in different lattudes-there has been found
exist certain resemblance Of geological character in all the
districts where goire and crenism prevail. In Longitude
nal valley like that Of Chsmoun where throughout its whole
length the composition of the soil its two sdess markedly
disren-s other dscoverable conditions being the same
the villages upon side subject to sotre those the
other exempt .Tansveal Valleys passing successfully
over sections Of different geological formations found
certain sos to be gotrou and over others to be not
The valley descending from the Col du Bonhomme, in Swift
zerland, uniting ST. Gsvsis with that of the Arve and
fact Free from goe in its upper Districts where the valley
is narrow closely hemmed in by the mountains, and
joyiug but imperfect ventilation the disease prevails in
eminent degree the broad and welsed region lying be.
tween ST. Gervais and saenahe. From salenche Cluse
the valley which again becomes and confined, is
exempt but from the latter point where widsns and be-
comes we'll cultivated the goe reappears, and continues to
Bonneville Now geologss have ascesined that the geoo-
gcal character Of the portions of the valley afflicted with
gore is the same, differing from that Of the other
tions, and identical with that Of the side of the valley Of
Chamoun, where the disease is prevalent The soil is
schstose las limestone, containing Of gypsum and
doome cagneules M Grange produces great variety Of
facts OF similar naure all going prove the correctness Of
his theory In various parts Of Germany we meet with
goe springs, called from their known property Of giving
this disease to those who drink Of the for certain time
Young in the habit Of using these springs for the
purpose Of contracting the disease and thus exempng them
selves from military service.
M Grange naturally inquired wha, was the noxious in
gredient Of these resort to rigid chemical analysis
Of the waters of affected districts has enabled him.
he hinks to detect the secret He discovered many sub
stances in themselves and Alone inocuous but he found
united with them, and in notable quantities. sulphae Of mag
nesa chloride Of magnesa, naturally of easy solution
carbonate Of magnesa dissolved by the aid Of cabonc acid
M. Grange concludes the result of his Investigations
that magnesa in the Of soluble salt is the cause Of
gotre Notwithstanding the objections that have
been raised against this theory the committee of the Academy
Of opinion that there much for supposng to be
correct 1t believes it to be highly probable that goitre
produced by certain properties Of the water in in
the afflicted districts properties derived from the soil which
the particular locality cited in which
the whole population is less afflicted with this disease
except family. That family cistern- excu-
svely All others in daily Of water derived mmed
ately from the earth
Now, what is the the preventive The simplest
and most evident would to he the procuring for the a
fcted districts water not mpregnated with magnetism salts
Where this mpraccsbe may be had the
egn remedy proposed by Mr. Co1sDEr-iodne. Where il,
cannot be effected by private associations Government should
supply to the gorous regions slightly iodurated salt be
used daily in lieu Of common salt By this MEANS commu-
nite' however unfavoaby situated may be made enjoy
the immunity with respect to this disease that enjoyed
by shore populations which, absorbing in marine produc
ons which form the base Of their ament considerable
quantity of iodine do suffer from gore whatever be the
character Of the soil the salts held in solution by the
in daily use.
The Academy Of Sciences adopts the conclusions of the
of its committee and orders the report be addressed
the Ministers of Public instruction and Of Agriculture and
Commerce. in testimony of the interest felt by that learned
body in the thorough investigation Of subject which init
mstey concerns the physiology and the moral mental and
physical welLbeng Of notable portion Of the population