Washington telegraph., 1855-09-26
Cause cf Cholera.

a WOFk mas IuSC Deen issued at MUNICH DaVd-
ria written by DR.. Pattenkober, Professor of
Chemistry at the Munich University, entitled
Investigations and observations in regard TO the
propagation of Cholera with reflections on the
proper means of arresting its progressH The
book Is the result OF observations made at Nun
lch, NEre,nbnFg. Augsburg, WuIzburs. Ebrack.
IngolStadt. GaImersheim, RatisboGe, Fraunstein
and Frsysing: aid the author compares his results
with the Report of the Mortality of Cholera in
England, in lSlS-f9." and: the reports or the clo-
era in India during the years 1917, ISIS and 1919
by James SameSon. He finds a general ag, e.
ment in ali these data, ana comes TO the follow
ing interesting conclusions touching Cholera
l. That 1t Is not contagious, in the usual sense
OF the word; but that it can. nevertheless be car
ried from one place to another.
2 That it always follows the usual routes Of
commerce.
B. That TO elevation above the leve! of the
ocean, furnishes guarantee against the disease
nor is any depth necessarily exposed to It's Eav-
ages
T. That 10 contagious cholera matter is floating
IN the atmosphere and that consequently the dis
ease Is not propagated By currents of air
D That 1t Is not propasated through the water
g. That it is propagated through the earth
T. That the earth receives and develOpes the
cholera contagion from the excremcnts of fdiseased
persons
thrown into sink privy. are capable of trans
forming the whole mass into hearth of cholera
contagion.
g. That the gases di>engaged by the decomDo
stion OF organic substances, aud especially O. ex
crenents. penetrate the earth rise TO the surface
and become then the cause OF fevers and of cboI
era.
10 That there has not been single case Of
cholera observed in Bavaria that could not be
traced to that species OF Injection
IL. That the stools of persons afflicted with
cholera or that peculiar species of darrhCea which
usually rrecedes cholera. are more infectious than
those who actually seized with the disease.
H. That cholera is always carried 10 place
where 1t has not yet appeared by diseased per-
son, and communicated through excrenents
brought in contact with the earth: and that :here
is 10 other way oi propagaiing the disease. I'm
mediate contact with the patient inhaIins the air
OF the sick loom. washing of the dead boiv Uay
even dissectins it after death does not conlsn.uI
cate the disease
13- Not every species of earth acts on the pro-
cess of decomposition in ike manner and the ca
pacity for spreading the contagion in the manner
above stated varies in consequence with the COM
position of the soil on which dwellings are built
On rocky foupdation, granite or sandstone. chol-
era never becomes epidemic. An aIuvial soil
unCerlaid with lime clay, OF any other cause
which keeps the ground moist, NAV become a
teemng womb ior the cholera contasion
II. The cholera poison may be in a person from
one 70 twentyeight days without maniiesting It
self This fact furnishes measure tor the dis
tamce 10 which it may be carried from one place
70 another
I5- The disease which is not communicated BIZ
contact is carried TO the inmates OF houses sleep
ing in rooms exposed to the cholera poison As
above engeudered
16- If the cholera, as proved in London IS more
intense and fatal in the plain than on elevations.
it WILL investigation. be found that tits owing
to the better drainage, by which filth is removed
before it IS GecompoSed, or before it enters, as in
damp and wet soils, into process of fermentation
DR.. Pettenkoier found some of the worst cases of
cholera on hills where the pTivies of houses sill
higher situated emptied into sinks or sewers Of
improper fall The upper houses were generally
exempt.
H. To prevent contasion the stools Of cholera
patients must be disnected before they are eY,;r4
led The best disinfected agent is vifroI of iron.
Chloride of lime only Purifies the air. but does not
destroy the cholera poison.
IS When strangers frOEEl cholera districts are
expected to arrive. the privies of hotels and board
ing houses where they expected 10 put I'd.
ought to be dlsinfected with vitrioI of iron-sav
once week. In the rooms and corridors of hos
pItalSr ssrpentine may be spread on paper and ez-
posed to the atmosphere The Oxen (eIectr;fieI
oxysenl thus given out IS the best purifier OF the
atmosphere.
19- Care must be had not TO allow any linen 10
be washed which is scIIed with the excreu,ents
of cholera patient. The process Of unaceration
TO which soied clothes are usually subjected i
capable OF developing and communicating. tie dis
ease in its worst form jameson found the same
truth in 1917, rs and 10 in India. withou. trac-
ing it to its source
20 There are no other sanitary regulations c,
pabie OF preventing or arTesting cholera in It's
progress, than those which have reference Ia
cleaning and purifying those places which serve
10 collect OF convey human excrements-