The weekly union record., 1865-07-01
How to Avoid Mlasma.

We call the especial attention OF our readers
to the following article on miasua. Health is
q matter Of the first Importance. We believe
this article throws some light upon the cause
OF sickness in Oroyile. For years We have
had large areas Of surface covered or moistened
with water near the town. and exposed to the
rays of the sun This year the water has
been mainly confined il the bitches Of the
Water Company Heretofore acres on acres
of shallow ponds and moist earth have been
suffered to s,agnate and generate miasma.
This year, thus far, has been very healthy,
compared with former seasons. Still there IS
a shallow pond of some ten acres suffered TO
exist within about q mile of town which should
be remedied. I, needs bat a small amount
Of expense 10 do away With this pond
There is no doubt but the sickness in Oro-
vile in former seasons has been caused by
the water of the ditch being suffered to
spread itself over the surface and collect in
shallow ponds. II must be very probable, at
least. if there is any truth in the article we
copy from the Agricultural Report. Again,
we say, read the article
The most favorable circumstances for the
production of masmatic epidemic-speedy.
malignant and wide-s spreading-are the expo
sure of the muddy bottom of a pond or slug
glsh stream 10 the beaming heat OF Summer s
sun. In less than week whole neighborboods
have been stricken with disease, yet, under
such circumstances, and according to the well
established laws OF miasm, FIVE families may
dwell within half a mile OF a drained mill.
| pond, and yet only one will suffer from it.
while the other four will remain exempt from
unusual disease. First If rapid stream OF
considerable width runs between the drained
( pond and the house. Second II there is in.
terposed thick hedge or growth of living,
! luxuriant trees or bushes A treble row Of
sun flowers is known to have answered the
purpose in repeated cases. Third If the
prevailing winds from June to October are
from the house toward the pond. Fourth Il
the house be on steep hill
The reasons for the exemptions are here
shortly recaptulated. First: Miasm does
not cross wide, rapid stream. Second
Miasm is absorbed by thick, living. luxurianr
foliage. Third: Miasm cannot travel against
the wind. Fourth: Masm cannot ascend q
high, steep hill. There is no mystery in these
variations, nor any compexity, when the law:
Of miasm are thoroughly understood
1t will be practically useful for the young
farmer, in pecuniary point of view. to un
derstand, further, that in one year a house or
the banks of a mill pond or sluggish stream
may be visited with sickness; the very nex
year that same house may be exempt because
it is very cold Summer the third year i
will escape because it is a very hot Summer
the fourth year it will be a very beautiful hab
itation because it has been very wet Sum
mer. Why these variaiions2
Flrst-Miasma cannot form, or If it does
cannot rise through a foot or two of depth o
water, and the wet Summer kept the ponG
covered. Second-1he hot Summer dried The
bed of the pond to dust, and there can be nc
miasma without dampness Third-The colo
Summer did not give the degree of heat neces
sary to the generation OF miasma-that is
eighty degrees of Fahrenheit These princi
pies fully explain tie apparent mystery of tie
/ epidemics in New Orleans
An Illustration OF the laws of masma, which
the writer will never forget, was bad during 8
cholera Summer in Boston, under the follow
/ Ing circumstances The city authorities in
augurated most perfect system of cleanliness
/ Efforts were made TO procure the services o.
/ the most reliable men to visit every house from
cellar TO garret, and compel the removal OF
everything which could have even remote
! tendency to invite the fearful scourge. The
results were admirable there was not single
case OF cholera, except in very restricted dis
trlct in fact, only one family was attacked
( a more special examination was instituted
when there was found, in a remote corner ol
/ the cellar, large pile of the aecumulatons oi
bad housekeeping for years, and this was in q
state OF putridty. On lis removal, and the
/ plentiful use of The most powerful disufectants
the disease at once disappeared and did Lot
return.