Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-11-27

Dy causes eNlsting IN the atmosphere, ana
attacking at the same time large number Of
persona. That the cause of epidemic disease
is in the atmosphere, and enters the human
system in state of intermixture with it, is a
point upon which, we believe Psychologists
have ceased to dispute; but what is the
nature of the cause, and how It can exist in
The atmosphere and yet evade the most mi
mute and laborious research, are matters that
still remain surrounded by doubt and dis
agreement.
Causes Of disease invading the human sys-
lem from without, must in character belong
to one Of the two great classes into which
all material things are divided; they must
be either organic or inorganic; either con-
tanning or not containing in themselves the
principle oflif In case they are organic,
ueir intermixture with the atmosphere must
be mechanical merely-they float in il as q
foreign substance; in case they are inorganic,
their iDtermixture with the atmosphere is
necessarily chemical-they form, for the
time, one Of its constituent parts this being
= ie only known condition upon which they
would remain. .H Pro
Inorganic substances in combination with
the air would, however minute their pro-
portion, be readily detected by chemical an
alyss. Their effect would be, like that Of
poisons in general, to corrode the tissues
with which they come in contact aud pro-
duce death by dissolution of the parts to
which vital functions are entrusted. Organic
substances intermixed with the air, would be
likely to lodge in localities favorable 70 their
development, and to reproduce themselves in
mass of parasitic vegetation the effect of
which would be either to obstruet the vital
functions and invite death directly, or by
projecting their roots into the tissues, to be-
get Inflammation, gangrene and decay.
If there is any point that appears to be in
contrOvertibly settled in chemistry, it is that
the air undergoes no alteration in its con-
stituent parts, either in respect to materials
or quantities. 1t is always made up of the
Same elements, and in the same proportions.
The air Of the atmosphere never changes,
never becomes corrupt or adulterated. The
most laberious tests, applied in times of the
most violent epidemics have utterly failed
to detect the smallest degeneracy. Chemi-
cally, it is always pure, perfect and whole
some. 1t is fair to presume, therefore, that
when it becomes otherwise, it is by casual
intermixtures Of things with which it re-
fuses to cODbine-with germs or monads of
organic matter-nnd this is the lesson which
the revelations of the microscope is grad
uslly bringing to the knowledge of man
kind. lt7 F.t
Whether there is, at this extreme point of
research, where the powers of the microscope
almost fail to penetrate, any difference be-
tween animal and vegetable-or rather
whether any of the recognized distinctions
between the two provinces into which or
ganic life is commonly distributed, exist in
such manner as to be deteetabIe--we do
not know but we prefer TO treat the cause
of atmospheric disease as vegetable rather
than animal, foT several reasons. No animal,
80 far as is known, taken into the system, is
dangerous to health by the production of a
specific molady; and the appearance of the
phenomena in the part affected by epidemic
parasites is more like that of vegetable than
of animal life. We can not get over the
idea-althoueh it is in some sort, mis-
taken one-that the power of individual
locomotion is insepsrable from animal ex-
isteHee.t
There is class Of vegetation, parasitic in
its character, minute in its propositions
manding in some of its members the utmost |
power Of the microscope for its detection
whose germs, there is reason to believe, float |
unseen 10 the atmosphere, small beyond the |
power of the imagination to comprehend,
numberless in variety, and in some of which |
are stored the ability to ipflct almost inf
mite injury upon the human race. Not
strictly speaking poisons = originating
no direct corrosiOn of the parts in which
they effect a lodgment = they enter
into the system, and in the process of
termination, growth, and reproduction,
produce local disturbances which either
becomeSor appear to become, general. To
this cause we may attribute the existence of
the terrible catalogue of epidemic and ma
larious diseases, with which humanity has
been scourged as far back as history contains
any record-plagues, choleras, scarletinas,
intermittents, inhuenzas goitres, milk sick
nesses: even the pulmonary consumption,
when it assumes-as it some times does-the
form of a contagion, gives evidence which
leads to the suspicion that it sprang. origi-
nally from the same prolific source with the
others. .....
Of the laws that govern these winged ar
rows of death, or tie conditions under which
they are produced, little is known; though of
some more than ofothers. Some are annual
and affect only particular LOCALITIES others at
long, and perhaps irregular intervals carry
sickness and death over the entire globe.
Some make their appearance at particular
seasons ofthe year, others pursue their ter
rible march irrespective of heat, cold or pre-
Vailing winds--as deadly amid the SHOWS of
Russian winter as during the torrid sum
mer-heats of the plains of Hindostan. Some
hover over the marshes, and visit with sick
meas those who dwell upon their borders;
some spring from the damp defles of rocky
mountains. stealing forth now and then, like
q band Of assassins from their gloomy fast
nesses; and some in the form Of the ruddy
simoom sweep over the burning desert, over
taking the traveller and closing up the
avenues Of life in an instant.
Diptheria, now somewhat prevalent in this
vicinity, is one Of this class of diseases.