The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-03-29
IFor the Empre.l
Letters On the History and Nature
of the Aslatic Cholera.

no. Nv.
Is Cholera contaglousY This u n ques-
tion that Is often asked, aud about which
much difference OF opinion has existed aud
stlll continues to exist.
Probably no disease has ever visited our
land that has given rise to so much contro-
Yersy and discussion among the members
of the medical profession. as 10 Its proper
classification with the contagious or nom
contagious diseases as the one now under
consideration and authority equally high
can ht adduccd, TO favor either OF the
conflicting views of the dlsputants.
Apropis--is the query of the old adj
age; "who shall decide when Doctors
Disagree =" so |, withholding my own
opinions, win furnish your readers with
the arguments of hoth the eontending par
ties as far as my limits will permit, prom
istng. by stating that large majority uf
the profession favor the doctrine of non
contagion and yet few are so firm In their
belief, US TO oppose the establishment OF
quarantine and other measures. to prevent
It's importation In the land, and Its spread
by contact amer II has appeared
In one opinion helive that all coincide.
viz That the disease isvcry much aggra-
waited BY the presence of local caascs.n
such US impure air generated by the pres
ence of nth, aud the destruction of animal
and organic matter--putrid exhalatlOnetc.,
and that II Is only when these conditions
are present that the term Epidemic IL strictly
applicable to the disease; that u Is
fed, nourlshed, and caused TO grow
into great proportion. by the malaria
of filthy localities aud the neglect of per-
sonal aud domiciliary cleanliness, and that
the epidemic Influences depend for their
vigor, yiWlence. and long coutlnuancc,
upon the conditions above named
Those flyoring the doctrine of oontagion
argue,
Eyrst-That Cholera Is specific disease.
depending upon choierdic cirHS or po son,
arising from specific cause, aud propagated
only by human intercourse; following
chiefly the great routes of travel, and traV
cling In no Instance fhster than ships and
men travel, deviating here aud there from
the main routes, Just rs men deyiate In their
travels uninnucnccd by winds or atmos-
phere, creeping slowly, then moving rap
idly--now here, now there along the lines
ot commercial intercourSc--irom port to
port across seas and oceans, and along the
courses Of large streams anon, In the rural
and otherwise healthy districts.
SecORd-Thnt its advance never exceeds
the possibility of human progress and that
Its occurrence always succeeds the arrival
of an affected ship, or of an individual IN
the place! That It's attack is not general
In the beginning, but whether IN u city, or
In family, one or a few, are seized ut first.
and then Others successively, thus proving
that the cause must have passed from indi-
vidual to Individual. In proof of this the
ory many facts are given whore persons
who had been exposed to Cholera, removed
to districts unaffected. and which were
otherwise healthy and they being attacked
with the disease, have spread the infection
to others who visited them In their illness,
| and la this way alOne the Cholera was In
troduced Into cities, aud neighborhOods.
where otherwise 1t would never have APP
pearod, Instances are given, where upon
the arrival of Il ship, with the disease On
board, and the passengers permitted nj once
To scek different localities they have car
ried the disease into the different towns
and neighborhoods visited by them, also
whore the disease has appeared In schools,
aud the children upon being taken Ia their
homes. have communicated the disease to
their several families aud they to the
neighbors, sc.
TAird-That if It depended upon atn,Os-
phcric influences, then all places of equal
favorable local causes, would be equally
affected, but that such Is not the ease; that
many localities where "local filth aud Inn
pure air. exist, are not affected with ChoI-
era, because that the CA0lordic pirus has
not been introduced by individuals affected
with the disease, and that without such
importation no fear of the disease need be-
apprehendcd, such are some of the argu-
mcnts of the contagioniSt, and they appear
plausible, and in conformity with much OF
our own experience.
But when we come 10 consider the argu-
ments of the opposite party, we NAV he led
to change our views insomuch at least, as
not to permit our fears to come In conflict
with our duties To the sick, hut To give our
aid wherever the Interests of humanity
may call us.