Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-09-14
A Cholera Mist"

| The London papers are discussing the
| subject of "cholera mist "a blue
vapor on the hills-concerning which a
correspondent of the London Times
writes as follows
The announcement of the coincidence
of cholera with the occurrence of blue
mist can hardly fail to have created a
profound sensation in the scientific
world. Every careful observer Of nature,
particularly landscape painters, must be
familiar with the grayish blue haze which
produces such charming atmospheric
effect in the scenery of this country !;
but it can hardly be imagined that phi
losophers like Glaisher and Lowe can
have mistaken this effect for the phenom-
enon which they have recorded. IL will
naturally be conjectured that there may
he necessary relation between the blue
matter forming the mist and the well
known blue stage of cholera. Medical
practitioners, who are for the most part
feebly imbued with the spirit of true
philosophy, will be disposed to riJicule
this notion from feeling of modification
that it should have escaped the attention
of their own profession In like manner,
Mr.. f. j. loves ingenious hypothesis
that the blue mist may be caused by
the tail of comet will probably be
received with incredulity, if not with
derision, by astronomers and chemists.
But truth when first discovered has
generally been scoffed at by ignorant,
unworthy and envious assailants. An
investigation concerning the nature of
the tail of a comet will certainly lead to
entirely novel and important results,
and may furnish clue to the interpre
tation of cosmical phenomena which
have hitherto proved impenetrable to the
human understanding. The opportunity
for such an investigation is singularly
appropriate at the present time, as a
paper on the subject might be prepared
for the forthcoming meeting of the
British Association at Nottingham. Ii
would be exceedingly interesting to
ascertain why the blue mist seen at
Greenwich should have remained station
airy with the wind blowing at velocity
sufficient to produce pressure of nine
pounds per foot
Another writer says that similar mist
was observed at Varna at the time of
the Crimean war, and in the West Indies
before the outbreak of the cholera in
1854, as appears from the following re-
markable paragraph, extracted from
paper upon Asatic cholera, by Dr.
Cooper, principal medical officer to the
Great Western Railway Company. Dr.
Cooper remarks:
"The existence of this atmospheric
miasma has more than once been OBJ
served. A thin, blnish haze was seen TO
hang over Varna at the time of the Cri-
mean war, by persons on board our men
of-war lying at that place, just before
the outbreak of the Asiatic cholera there
The same thing-l satisfied myself upon
the independent testimony OF per
sons at three different spots in ST.
Christopher-wa seen just prior to
the outbreak Of the disease in that is
land, in November, 1854, and this fact
was fully set forth by me in my report to
the government upon the outbreak of the
cholera in that place. 1t was described
by all as thin, transparent, blush
haze hanging over the.spot and not af-
fected by the wind. All the evidence
agreed precisely in every particular as
to the appearance, time, etc, although
my informants had no communication
one with another upon the subject The
first case Of cholera occurred five days
subsequent to this appearance"
Another gentleman writing from Not
tingham, says:
"The same blue mist or veil noticed
by Mr.. Glaisher was most CONSPICUOUS
here, on Thursday last,at p m, and has
continued, ever since, but fainter on
Sunday, Monday, and yesterday, though
strong as ever this morning | do not
believe it could have escaped my notice,
and feel sure it was not here as early as
Thursday morning The appearance is
very similar to the faint bloom which is
seen on the surface ofrecently vanished
paintings. A gale has been blowing
ever since Saturday, throwing down some
very large trees. have taken special
notice OF this singular fog since its COM
mencement, thinking it possible to be
comet detained by the earths aitrae-
tons