The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-10-27
why Epidemics Rage at Night.

II was in one night that four thousand persons
pershed Of The plague in London. 1t was by night
that the army of SenHacharib was destroyed
Both in England and on the Continent large
portion of cholera cases in its several forms have
been observed to have occurred between one and
Two o'clock in the morning. The danger of ex-
posure TO the night air has been theme OF Physi-
clans from time mmemorial, but il is remarkable
that they never yet called in the aid OF chemistry
to account for the fact. ~
Ii is at night that the stratum Of air nearest the
ground must always be The most charged with the
particles Of animalized matter given out from the
skin and deletcrious gases, such as carbonic acid
gas the product OF respiration, and suiphureted
hydrogen, the product OF The sewers. fn the day
gases and various substance of all kinds in the
air by the rarefa ction OF the heat. At night hen
this rarefaction leaves, they fall by an increase of
gravity if impereclly mixed with the atmosphere
while the gases involved during the nj ght instead
of ascending, remain at nearly the same level. 1t
is known that bon;c acid gas at low tempera.
,ure partakes nearly Of the nature OF fluid that
il may be poured out of one vessel into another.
1t rises at the temperature at which is exba led
from the lungs, butts tendency is towards the floor
or the bed OF the sleeper in cold and unyenated
rooms.
AT Hamburg the alarm Of cholera at night in
some parts ol The city great that many re.
fused TO go to bed, lest they should be attacked
unawares in their sleep. Sitting up they probably
kept their stoves open fires burning for the sake
Of warmth, and that warmth gives the expansion
to any deeterious gases present, which would best
promote their escape and promote thir dilution in
the atmosphere. The means of safety then
unconsciously assured Al Sierra Leone the ma.
ves have practice in The sickly season OF keeping
fires constantly burning in their hus at night, as.
signing that the fires keep away he evil Spirits 10
which, in their ignorance. they attribute the fever
and ague. LatterIy, Europeans. have begun TO
adopt the same practice, and those who have tried
it assert that they have now entire immunity from
the tropical fevers to which they were formerly
subjected. .r
In The epIdemics Of The middle ages fires used to
be lighted in the streets for the pur6canon OF the
air, and in the plague Of London in 1855 fires in
the streets at one time kept bu ming inccs.
sanity, till extinguished by violent storm Of rain.
Latterly trains of gunpowder have been fred and
cannons discharged for the same object; but it is
obvious that these measures, although sound in
principle, tnust necessarily out Of doors, be too
small scale, measured against an ocean of
atmospheric air, to produce any sensible effect.
Wih2 doors, however, the case is different. L
is quite possible to heat room sufficiently to pro-
duce rarelactIou and consequent dilution OF any
malignant gases it may contain, and it is OF course
the air Of the room, and that along, at night which
comes in contact with the lungs Of the person
sleeping Westninster Rcvieae. ...~z