Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-15
The Cholera,


THE DISEASE NOT CONTAGIOUs-iIs DEFEND
ENcE ON ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS USE
LEssNE>s OF QUARANTINE.
In Il report made by DR.. Edwin ~ Snow,
OF Providence, Rhode Island. to the ROaad
Of Alderman of that city, the doctor says
So far as the city of Providence Is con
cerncd, if quarantine regulations were OF
any value they would be useless here while
We nave communication a dozen times daily
with New York and other cities but there
is no principle more certainly established
in the minds OF all intelligent observers OF
the disease, than that quarantine regulations
are absolutely dnI utterly nscjuss to prevent
the introduction and spread of Asiatic
cholera.
The cholera cannot prevail as aH cpIdem-
10 without the presence Of @ certain mystic
rious condition Of the atmosphere. OF this
atmospheric condition little is known bu,
it is known that its presence or absence Is
not affected or regulated I'm The slightest
possible degree by quarantine measures
Vessels may have Che cholera on board. and
may land the sick ON our shores. but the
disease will never become epidemic. nor
spread among the people untilthat mystic
riOus atmospheric condition Is present
But that atmospheric cause may come and
be present, and the disease may spread cp-
idcmically, without any connection with
the arrival Of vessels from ports where the
disease exists.
Ii not a single vessel should arrive iu 0u.
ports during the next five years if would
not make single day difference in the
presence OF absence of cholera as an cpl
demic.
The doctrine stated So positively In the
document from the United States Legation
at Const&ntinopIc, that rHgE,rr IS eaafGg.ous.
is equally opposed to the opinions of physi-
clans and others who have seen the disease.
and Is calculated Jo work most serious in
jury, if fully believed. IN any community
where the disease exist. II the cholera
was actually contagious I'm the ordinary
acceEtatiOH Of the lcrm, panic would cE-
ist, and and it would b. diGcuIL to obtain
muses.. OF medical attendance for Che sick
But no intelligent medical observer of the
disease i'm this country. nc Che present dav.
believes that cholera is contagious. have,
myself, IN TWO yPidym5cS OF cholera in this
country, seen a great number of cases OF
the disease and have carefully observed
and studied its causes and ProPrcss, and
may say, in common with many others who
tEgr lint cioi.ro IS ao. r9Hfa4i3.n.
Dr. Snow adds
The causes of cholera are, first, thc ulys-
ferrous atmospheric condition OF which We
have spoken and second, local conditions
Of filth and impure air. The disease can
not prevail without the combined presence
Of these two causes. The first eau c Is be
youd human control. 10 advances and re
;cdcs in obedience To laws OF which We
know nothing: il crosses continents and
oceans rs freely as the winds Of heaven. and
{ would be a. reasonable TO attempt 10 con
rOl the movements Of the east wind. as To-
.ttcmpt to control Che movements Of this
auso Of cholera by quarantine restrictions.
But the second cause of cholera. and with
,ut which The first would be comparatively
,owcrcss for evil Is, TO d very great extent.
within our control, and here Is where our
utv lies.