Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-05-15
Pro Memoria.
by WILLIAM scHMGLx.
Cause, LOcalizatiOn, Diffusion, Prevention,
and Treatment o the AsfatIc Cholera.
I. CAUSE.

and Treatment I the AsfatIc Cholera.
I. CAUSE.
The Asiatic Cholera is a miasn,atic or CON
tagious disease. IRIS is too generally recog-
nized and admitted to require any further
| proof One infected person may carry the
disease to place till then entirely free from
it, and difuse it over the whole neighbor-
hood; whence again it may spread, by SINH
lar propagation, through patients, over
whole country or continent.
THIS involves, by necessary implication,
that the cause of the cholera reprcduces it,
self in every patient, and is thus multiplied
and propagatcd.
Now, the power Of reproduction and prop
agatlon of their own species is an attribute
belonging exclusively to living organisms
Hence, it follows, with logical certainty,
that the cause OF the cholera consists Of liv>
ing organisms or parasites.
This deduction agrees with, and explains,
all well-defued facts presented by the history
of the cholera.
II. tOCAt1zATtoN.
The question of the localization of the
cholera parasites in the human body NAV be
solved thus: We must look for the localiza-
ton OF the cause where we find its main and
uniform effects, viz: in the mucous coat of
L
meet the primary and main symptoms. or
LESSONS, produced by the cause Of the cholera.
which may be explained US follows: In the
chyle OF the said portion of the alimentary
tribe; the parasites, or their seeds or germs
ind ready prepared and rich nutriment, and
all other requisites for their vigorous growth
and development, as we'll as for their speedy
reproduction and multiplication. Being
foreign bodies, they causes; by their. irritating
presence, and by the catalytic influence of
their organs, chemical processes of growth
and Development, high degree cfinfamma-
ton in the mucous coat Of the small intes-
tines, from which, by physiological and
pathological Necessity, all other symptoms of
the cholera result.
III DIFFUSION,
To reach the mucous coat of the intestinal
tube, there is no other way for the parasites,
or their seeds, but to be carried thither With
the food. This is selfevident
But how may the cholera PARASITES, or
their seed, get on or into our food? In the
absence OF all direct observations, we must
and can satisfactorily answer this question by
analogy. We know that certain other para
sites, which cause the putrrfaction of dead
bodies, reach the latter by being carried ON
the vapOrs of warm air. Thus, therefore,
may the cholera parasites, or their seed, be
equally car:Ied on the vapors of warm air
and deposited on our food, or Cthcr objects
coming III their way. This agrees with and
explains the universally admitted mias1natic
or contagious nature of the cholera and all
otherwise imexprcubie phenomena connected
with its diffusion.
Crhe far fetched and complicated theory
OF Professor Pettenkoter lssGning the air,
Gas sGclr, not vaporS, and the human blood.
az / fIfH,iIa ! :. q
lnteStlnes, and ascribing to gases, which can
not be organic bodies, the exclusively organic
power of reproducing themselves, is to say
the least, very unphiGS"phical.)
The original parasites OF the cholera.
generated in the hot aud luxuriaut swamps
OF Southern Asia, may be borne ON the
vapors OF warm currents of air, coming frcm
those swamps, over the surrounding country,
and, being deposited on, or udhering to, the
food of the inhabitants, or lodging in the
mouth be carried, as before stated with the
food, into the alimentury tube, and cause the
disease, as before described. Being repro
duccd i'll great numbers, they and their
seeds will be carried with the excavations of
the bowels, out of the intestinal tube, into
the open air.
Being thus brought iEto the open air, the
parasites, or their seeds, may be carried on
the very TapOrs arising from the excrements
OF cholera patients, aud on vapors OF the SUR.
rounding wafHn air, through the vicinity, as
TAR as such vapOrs may be carried, and be de
posted on, or adhere to any articles of food
or the mucous coats of the mouths of persons
with which they may come in contact, and
then Carried, with the food, into the small in
tcstines, as before described.
" PREVENTION.
Hence it follows that tie cholera cause can
not be deffused if proper care is taken to dis
inject the excrenients Of cholera patients i'm
Iuedlateiy upon the discharge from the bowels,
before the vapor arising from them can spread
the Infection around. This may be secured
by keeping fresh chlorinated lime in the YES
sels used by the patients, in order that the
chlorine gas, which is constantly set free from
the lime, may meet the infectious vspors of
the excrements as quickly as they are formed,
and disintect by destroying the parasites.
Ifthis rule is applied on all sea vessels ON
which cases OF Asiatic cholera make their an
pearance, there will be no danger Of further
diffusion Of the parasites, either on such YES,
sells or by the persons coming from them; pro-
vided that sufficient time has elapsed between
the last case of cholera happening on such
vessel and her entering port to preclude the
suPposltIon that some persons might carry the
infection with them before its full develop
ment. The excrements should never be per.
mitted to remain standing about, but should
be speedily thrown isto priyies, after being
first thoroughly disinfected by free additions
Of chlorinated lime water Especial attention
should also be given to the frequent and
thorough disinfection of privies.
1t follows further, that We may disinfcct
our o@n aIimentary canal by remedies which
may be sufficiently powerful to destroy minute
parasites, yet not powerful! enough to- injure
our mucous coats. Such remedies are. for
instance, all the strong mineral acids. pa1 tic
ularly sulphuric acid: The last NAMED acid
may be taken with cold water. say two or three
| drops in tuhl5ler full af cold or ice water.
30 f.,. r.,..:lnr tha