The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-04-10

tTor the Emplrel
Letters on the History and Nature
- of the Asiatic Cholera. u

Is CHOLERA CONTAGIOUS ?--Having fur
nished your readers, In former letter. with
some of the arguments of those who favor
the contagiousness Of Cholera, / propose
now 10 give some of the reasons why a
majority OF the medical profession object
to Its classification with contagious diseases.
There are certain well established laws
governing diseases specifically contagious,
which have not space here TO enumerate,
but which are found present in all diseases
belonging to that class; and, when not
found, then the disease referred to is not
entitled TO such classification, although IN
some particulars there may be reseni-
blance. lf
Cholera does not observe the laws belong
ing strictly to contagious diseases, and
therefore we must look 70 other causes for
its propagation. .g.t.... I.s
1t is argued First That Cholera existed
and remained quietly for a series of years
at least as long back as 1869, at the place of
its origin In India. and although constant
intercourse was had with that country, and
caravans of Pilgrims were annually crowd
ing the lines of travel, and commerce was
free and unrestricted, vet the disease never
passed beyond its original limits until the
year 1917, when il assumed an epidemic
form and gradually spread until itencircled
the entire globe :; that in its spread 1t was
not regular as 10 time, direction. or inter-
timesoverleapingo or passingby those places
in its most immediate vicinity and appear
ing in others at n distance, having at times
Il preference for one line of movement, and
rejecting another, although the same
amount ofhman intercourse in the differ
ent directions existed; whereas. IF as as
serted. 1t depended upon contagion for It's
spread. such preference for certain routes.
and rejection of others would not exist;
that having Travelled In its course as far
as the Russian city of Astracan in 1923,
it paused there, (although constant COM
munication was had with that city, until
1923. when IL reappeared In Ohvenburg,
without being traceable at the time. for It's
communication to any infected district,
that In its visitations to this country the
manner of its introduction, does not favor
the doctrine of contagion. although 1t i'm
mediately succeeded the arrival of vessels
from foreign ports containing persons af-
fected with the disease, yet In each In
stance vessels with the disease on board
had been landed In our ports the fall pre-
vious to Its appearance rs an epidemic, and
the passengers and crew were permitted to
mix with the Inhabitants; still 1t did not
spread. because \ Choleric condition of
the atmosphere was not present.
Second, That it is not courageous, be-
cause persons In attendance ppon those af-
fected with the disease are not more liz
Bile to the attack than others; that in our
hospitals where hundreds are sick with the
disease at the same time, those In atten-
dance on them have at times been
singularly exempt. aud that the mortal
ity amoug physicians has not been greater
In proportion than In any other class.
neither have they been known to carry
the infection in their clothes 30 their
own or other families; that individ-
uals have worn the clothes and slept IN the
beds of those who have died of Cholera,
without previous cleansing. aud have not
taken tho disease, that the infant may
nurse atthe mothers breast, as long as vi
tality remains, and yet escape unburt and
that attempts of the most varied kind have
been made to impart 1t by innoculation,
aud by introducing its different products in
every way into the system of persons who
were healthy, and altogether without sue
cess.
These, with many other reasons. are ad-
duced to prove that Cholera is not contagi-
Gus and Is not governed by the laws that
govern diseases belonging TO that class, and
have led the medical profession generally
to reject the doctrine of contagion.
After hearing the arguments for and
against the contagiousness of Cholera we
might consent to occupy middle ground
on this disputed question, or to agree to a
compromise between the contending par
ties, viz: That Cholera Is contingently
contagious.
First. That II is portable aud may be con-
veyed In vessels (for which Ii seems to
have great aiiiuity) from an infected to a
healthy port-or by baggage or clothing
carried from an infected to a healthy dis
trict, or the virus may be carried by the
winds, or person affected with the disease
may become the center of a new infection.
Second, That when so conveyed, If the
virus come in contact with material or To-
calities favorable for its developement, it
will ignite, and continue TO spread so long
as material Is found suitable for its propa-
CATION. just as sparks of fire, escaping
from the burning building, will fall with
out injury when they do not come in con-
tact with material that is combusible; but.
such being the case, they then become self
propagating and form the centers of further
Communication.
Third, That during the prevalence of
Cholera as an epidemic In any locality,
choleric condition of the atmosphere does
exist, or the cholerie virus pervades the air,
to such an extent that nearly every one res
ident of such locality Is more or less af-
fected with some of the symptoms Of the
prevailing epidemic; but unless the sur
roundings are favorable they do not cul-
inmate In Cholera. Nor would this condi-
tion of the atmosphere. of itself, develope
the disease unaided by local and individual
causes.
In my next, ! win consider the probable
tiles of visitation of Cholera this sum
.mer.