Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-12-31
COpper VS.. Cholera.

1t is stated that many of the citizens of New
Orleans have provided themselves with pieces
Of copper, about six inches long and three
wide which they carry about them as sort
of protection against the cholera. They have
been induced TO this course BY an alleged
discovery by DR.. Burg, of Paris, who states
that in certain streets Of that capital, as well
as in other cities, while the cholera prevailed
in almost every other quarter, every copper.
smith retained his usual health, and not
cholera case occurred among them. The cop
per foundries in Paris number thousand of
workmen, scarcely any OF whom fell victims
to the cholera of 1882. or of lS49. But we
cannot do better than TO transcribe from the
original Memoir by Victory Meunier, an ac-
count Of this wonderful discovery:
"Dr. Burg" says the writer commenced
his inquiries on vast scale and continued
them during five months. In Paris alone he
visited four hundred houses. manufactures,
foundres and other establishments for the
working of metals. He corresponded with
the officers of various associations of workmen,
and especially Of biacksmiths, coppersmiths,
locksmiths and farriers. He wrote to the
heads of similar establishments in all the
principal departments of France. Not sat
ished with having accumulated a mass of
evidence from upwards of 100000 persons,
he applied for further information to England
Sweden and Russia; to the director of the
mines of Siberia, from whom he obtained
information respecting 10000 miners; to the
cutleries of Sheffield; the iron works of Bir-
mingham; the wire works of Wales; mines of
Sweden and Russia; and finally. having gath
cred the testimony of more than 100000
individuals, he addressed a Memoir to the
Academy on the discovery ola means Of pre-
venting cholera"
The following are the conclusions deduced
from DR.. Burq.'s observations:
During the epidemic visitation of cholera
in France in 1892 and l849, the metal sexer-
ted beneficial influence on every occupation
in which they are habitually used. This in
huence, which is so palpable as to create sur
prise at its having been overlooked, is par
ticular remarkable in those trades in which
bronze and brass are much employed Next
in importance are occupations requiring the
handling of steel and iron. The protection
afforded by metallic substances is twofo!d
and distinct. First, preventive; second
curative. AS a preventative, they act doubt
less directly through contact, and in proppor-
tion to the quantity of metal and indirectly
by close proximity like light
ming rod which protects individuals within its
sphere OF action. The preservative power
exists in all the metals in proportion to their
excellence as conductors of electricity. AS
a curative, the power seems vested in copper
alone, which would appear to act upon the
miasm of cholera, like sui phate of quinine
on the miasm of intermittent fever In one
foundry in Paris, numbering 1860 persons,
only eight died, and of these, one was a
drunkard, one an apprentice, two were sick at
the period of the outbreak of the cholera. and
one was taken on Sunday. while absent from
the foundry. DIR. Burg concludes from these
facts that copper and It's alloys, such as brass
and bronze, steel and iron, applied directly
to the skin, and worn permanently, are an
invaluable preventive of cholera during an
Epidemic