Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-02-10
Theory TO account for Epldemlcs

Our notion has been that Epldemcs were
generally caused by irregularities n the dltfnsIon
of Electricity but here is learned lheorist who
daserves a hearing. Ed.
SOME able writer's have endavorel to account
for the manner in which diseases undermine the
vital powers, by theory net unentltledto atten'
non. As the air is ever more or less filled with
the emanations of purifying anmal aud vegeta-
Bile matter. they have asslmllated the acton Cf
these PARTICLES upon the blood, to that OF yeast
or wort. By the fermentation produced by yeast
the sugar Is changed into alcohol 1t ls, appa'
rentIy ,predisposed for the change; and the slight
est assistance it receives enabl it to unloose
the former union of its PARTICLES, and to enter
into who'll new state o chemical combinations.
Just So animal matter, floating in the AIR, III the
chemical slate OF change called putrescence. 1t
not sufficiently diluted, is capable OF throwing
the blood. w,lh which 1t may come in contact,
into an analogous stale of fermentation. IhuS,
of course. it totally alters its nature, aud renders
it incapable of fulfilling its proper functions.
Other writer's have supposed that The air, when
rendered impure, becomes overloaded with mu''
titudes of microscope insects, who attack the
human body, as smut attacks corn. Diners
conceive a minute fungus, whose spores, float
inc in the air, form the germs Of epidemic dis
ease. But all the various theories brought for
ward proceed from the assumption of vltla'ed
state of the atmosphere.
To understand the full force of these theories,
we must remember that the human body Is
wonderful combination of nnumerable PARTICLES,
all placed in differen, degrees Of chemca affinity
or antagonlsm to each other, and only held sepa'
rate, and in their proper relations, by the inscru-
table powers of vitality Port wine will ian
and convert into species OF leather the coats
of the stomach Of dead person and the gastric
Juices. tnat possess the power of disovng not
only animal substances, but even metals, fail to
iniure, in the least degree, the tender vessels
with which they are in constant contact, as long
as life holds its ful dominion. How wonderfully
does one single fud-the blood-ln Its passage
through each organ Of the body, yield to " 'nG
different secretion required to enable 1t to fuia
its proper functions supporting, at the same
time, that very vitality which it at once sustains
and seryesi Life has no sooner departed ana
lot loose all the different atoms Of which our
earthly tabernacle is formed, than they engage
in the great strife that eventuates in Its total
a;ssolution. As in moral sense, the spirit IS
ever at war with the nclinations of the flesh;
mn in n physical sense, the different elements
Of the body are only reserved in their INTEGRITY
by the despoiic control Of vitality.
These considerations derive some title to
notice. from the undoubted fact that epldemcs
are almost invariable accompanied by an extra
ardinary development Of insect life and seldom
fail also to produce most remarkable effects
upon the lower animals.
We have often heard of the "showers of
blood" that are said 10 have preceded pestlence,
striking terror into the minds of the vulgar. These
showers of coloured rain are almost invariably
caused either by infinite multitudes Of nseroso-
pic insects, or sometimes by the growth of spe
cies of fungus. The cliffs between Cape York
and Cape Dudley Diggers, in the Arctic regions,
are sometimes covered with snow of bright