Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-10-19
New Theory of Contagion.


New Theory of Contagion.
Abstract Of Remarkable German Document on Protec
ton against Cholera.
There has been in Germany, and at this
time particularly in Bavaria, a scientific
medical examining commission appointed,
concerning the nature and the spreading Of
the Cholera, and the means of protection
against it. An affectual check has, in fact,
been given on this disease The Bavarian
Sanitats Commission, after spending more
than year in research, has at length re-
ported through its Chairman, Prof DR..
PETTENKoFER, a man known alike in SCI
ence and in business, in tho latter as hav-
ing made highly valuable discovery in
Gas illumination. This report has given
SO important disclosure, and is of such
weighty interest, to the subduement OF the
cholera epidemic, that the Government in
Bavaria Immediately distributed the same
in hundreds Of thousand circulars among
the public. Perhaps no work ever created
greater excitement and satisfaction than
this document. With wonderful perseve.-
ance, and with the greatest zeal, was the
cholera pursued step by step. There is
- r'"o0, nv nVu'o, ..-..----, .--.c
city, in Bavaria, in which the Cholera was
not anxiously guarded. Then, further
steps we're taken they pursued the nature
and character of this marauder back to the
years 1917, Is, 10, in India, according to
the observation of James Jameson, and in
1s4s, 40, in England, in conformity with
the official report of the mortality Of cho-
lera there. The surprising fact next be-
came known that the course and nature of
the cholera epidemics in India, England,
and of late in Bavaria, we're exactly the
same. The celebrated Prof Liebig, had
already prophesicd that Wurtsburg would
never have cholera epidemic, and 50 in
fact it was. Pettenkoffer thinks that if
this great scholar had read the reports Of
diseases in India and England, he would,
setting aside his enlightened scientific dis
cernmept and knowledge, most certainly
have come to the same conclusion, so clear
and definite are the signs. The principal
results that have been attained in this Re-
port, by means Of hundreds of thousands
Of facts of the most convincing kind, may
be comprised in the following:
l. There is really no cholera-catchiug
matter (contagion) in the common accep-
ta'ion of the term: nevertheless, the dis
ease can be conveyed from one place to an
other.
2. The cholera always takes its course
in the direction Of the natural passages of
trade, (rivers, lakes, etc.
3. The height Of place above or below
the level of the sea, is not material to the
reception of the disease.
4. The air contains no cholera catching
matter, and the disease therefore does not
follow the direction of the wind.
5. just as little is it carried forward by
or spread through water.
G. In return, the earth receives and de-
-clopes the cholera-catchiug matter from
the excrements of cholera patients.
Z. The excrements Of patient. in privy-
vaults or close stools generate the catching
matter, and are the real cause of the same.
s. The gases that are developed by the
decomposition of organic matter, and par
ticularly Of excremcnts, permeate the
earth, rise to the surface, and become the
causes of fcvers and cholera.
9. Not single cholera case was obscrv-
ed in Bavaria, the cause of which could
not be traced back to this Kind of infec-
tion.
10. The close-stools of persons that are
infected, and are in the first stage Of the
disease, and especially Of those who are al
ready suffering from that DiarhGa, which
is always the forerunner Of the real chclc-
ra, are more contagious than those Of per-
sons who have the cholera as . disease.
IL. The cholera has always been brought
to place in which the epidemic never be-
fore appeared, BY a sick person, and in fact
its spread caused by means Of the ezcrc-
ments of the same coming in contact with
the earth. In no other way does this
propagation take place. Direct contact
with the patient, the inhalation Of the air