The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-04-24
r'se9s.is iFor the EmpIre.l s
Letters on the History and Nature
of the Asiatic Cholera.

daily increasing. Scarcely a day now pas
ses, but we are Informed OF the arrival at
one of our ports of vessels from abroad with
the disease on board, and | suppose there Is
no doubt, II the fact was made known, that
there are daily cases of the disease In both
of the cities of New York and New Orleans.
A knowledge of these facts should not be a
cause of alarm, or excite our fears fur
ther than being forewarned, we may
also be forearmed, by giving immedi-
ate attention TO those means that are rec
commended for preventing the development
| and spread of the disease. 1t Is a truth fully
established by abundant facts that all dis
eases of an epidemic form, are susceptible
of control to a very great extent by proper
preventive appliances, and of Cholera more
especially, 1t may be said, that IAN ounce
of preventive is better than pound Of
cure"
These preventlves. so far as sanitary reg
ulations are effective, we have endeavored
to give, as founded upon the experience of
the entire medical profession. .
Other physicians of the city have also
given to the people their views In acoordn
ance with our own; and the "Board Of
Health" have made their appeals to citizens,
to give to this subject of sanitary regula-
lations their immediate attention, and not
TO defer the matter until the heat of the
summer, or the presence of Cholera In our
midst.
Notwithstanding all of these warnings
and appeal, many filthy localities favorable
for the development of the disease, may
still be found in our city-many nuisances
which should be removed; and as there are
no good reasons why individual negligence
or love of filth should be suffered to oper-
ate TO the injury of the public welfare, /
would respectfully suggest to the ''Board of
Health" 0f within their power) the ap-
.nf aA mi
very properly, be denominated "Smelling
Committee" whose business it should be to
visit and search out the localities referred
to, and compel the delinquents TO conform
to the rules so wisely recommended by
them.
promised, In my last letter, to inform
your readers of a "cheap and valuable dis
infectant." Forartiticial disenfection many
agents have been recommended and used,
such as chloride of lime, quicklime. Condy's
manganic compounds-perchlorid of iron,
Sulphate of iron, (copperas,) nitrate of
lead, sulphate of zinc. &c. But the term
diSiVectdnt should only be applied to
agents that not only remove the offensive
smell. but actually destroy the contagious
matter, and which completely break up or
destroy decOmposing compounds, convert
ing them into their ultimate gaseous pro-
duets, which are comparatively harmless.
The most effective of this class, are Chlo-
ride of Lime, Chlorine Gas. Sulphurous,
and Nitrous Acid Gas, and Caustic Alka-
lies.
Chlorine Gas. and Sulphurous Acid
Fumes are useful for disinfecting buildings.
The latter Is the easiest to apply, as the
combustion of half pound Of Flour of
| Sulphur in three or four little heaps on the
| floor will produce abundance of sulphur
| GUS Acid. Sulphate of Iron removes sui
| phuretted hydrogen from the air (the emf
nation Of privies, &c. but does not destroy
the animal matters, which, by their decom-
position, evolve this gas. H,lts.
Chloride of Lime may be regarded as the
most valuable disinfectant to be placed In
the rooms of the sick, In cellars and out
houses, and solution of two ounces to a
| gallon of water is suitable mixture for
| washing our hands, or sprinkling our
| clothes, or for wetting the coverings used
for the dead; and, besides, it is cheap and
may be procured ready prepared from any
of our druggists.
The way In which chloride of lime acts,
Is by the elimination of chlorine gas which
being but loosely combined is disengaged
| by The slightest affinities. AL the acids
disengage 1t, and as carbonic acid is a pro-
duct of animal and vegetable decomposi-
| tion, noxious effiuvia furnish, In themselves,
| the means to a certain extent of their own
destruction by this chloride.
| Sulphuric acid disengages the chlorine,
| far more readily, a few drops of which, in
watery solution, may be poured upon the
| chloride of lime Ii a more active evo-
| luton of chlorine is desired, than that
which takes place from the mere action of
the carbonic acid of the atmosphere.
| In late number of the Medical Reporter
a writer says: 'Some years ago l read in
French scientific journal. that chloride
of lime would rid a houst of all vermin.
treasured up the information until an op-
portunity offered for testing its value.
took an old country house infested with
rats, mice and flies. / stuffed every rat and
mouse hole with the chloride. / threw Ii
on the stone floors of the dairy and cellar,
and kept saucers of 1t in my bed and dress
ing-rooms; cow-sheds, stables and pig
styes, had all their dose, and the result was
glorious
~ thoroughly routed my enemies and II
the rats, more impudent than all the rest,
did make renewed attacks, IL was after all
traces of the chloride had disappeared and
a handful of fresh chloride again routed
them"
Care should be taken not to place the
chloride in too close proximity TO gilded
china, OF bright steel wares, or they would
be reduced TO the appearance OF rusty iron,
In short time. .l4irf
| We advise trial OF the chloride of lime,
| for the vermin that infest the grape vines,
the rose bugs, also the squash aud cucum-
Der bugs and indeed, for all the bug family
known to gardeners and farmers. Then let
our "motto" be, cleanliness, chloride OF
| lime, and no Cholera.
In my next. L will consider the symtoms
and treatment of Cholera In its premonitory
stages.
gB- A splendid suit of Cashmere for
p