Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-05-23
How to avoid Miasma,

The most favorable circumsta 7ces for the
production Of a masmatlc epidemlc--speedy,
malignant, and wide spreading-are the expo
sure of the muddy bottom OF pond or sluggish
stream 10 the beaming heat OF summers SUM-
In less than week whole neighborhoods have
been stricken with disease, yet under such cir
cumstances, and according to the well-established
laws Of mlasma, five families may dwell within
halt a mile Of drained mill pond, and yet only
one will suffer from ii, while the other four will
remain free from unusual disease
1t rapid stream of considerable width
runs between the drained pond and the house.
Second--lf there is interposed thick he'd ge
or growth of living, luIuriant trees or bushes
treble row OF sunfOwers is known to have an.
swered the purpose in repeated cases.
| Third-li the prevailing winds from June to
| October are from the house toward the pond
Fourth--lf the house be on a steep hill.
The reasons for the above exemptions are here
shortly recapitulated
| Fnst-Mlasm does not cross a wide, rapid
stream.
Second-Mlasm is absoi bed by thick, living
luxuriant foliage.
Third-Miasm cannot travel against the wind.
Fourth-Masm cannot ascend Il high steer
hill.
There is no mystery in these variations nor
any completely, when the laws Of miasm are
thoroughly understood
1t will be practically useful Tor the young
farmer, in pecuniary point Of view, to under.
stand, further, that in one year a house on the
banks of mill. pond, or any sluggish stream
may be visited with sickness the very next veal
that same house may be exempt because it is q
very cold summer and the third year it vii
escape, because it is very hot summer; and the
fourth year it will be very hcallhlul habitation
because 1t mas been a very wet summer Why
these variations
Frst-Miasm cannot form, or ii ii does, can
not rise through foot or two of depth Of water
and the wet summer keeps the pond covered
Second-The hot summer dried the bed of the
pond to dust, and there can be no miasm with.
out dampness.
The cold summer did not give the degree OF
heat necessary 20 the generation of miasm--that
is, eighty degrees of Fahrenheit.
These principles fully explain the apparent
mystery Of the epidemcs in New Orleans, al.
ready referred TO in the first part Of this article
An illustration of the laws Of miasm which
the writer will never forget, was had during a
cholera summer in Boston, under the following
circumstances
The city authorities lnaugurated most per.
feet system of cleanliness. Efforts were made
to procure the services of the most reliable men
to visit every house from cellar to garrett, and
compel the removal Of everything which should
have even remote tendency to invite the fear.
full scourge. The results were admirable there
was not single case of cholera, except 10 a very
restricted district; in fact, only one family wa,
attacked. more special examination was in
stituted, when there was found in remot,
corner of the cellar, large pile of the accumu
lations of bad housekeeping Tor years, and th
was in a state Of putrdity. On its removal
and the plentiful use Of the most powerful dis
infectants, the disease at once disappeared, anC
did not return.-AgdcuitraL Report