Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-04-26
Is ChoIera Contagious?

\ very interesting pamphlet from the
pen Of DR.. Shrimpton, Of Paris, has Just
appeared on q subject which has for the
last BALI century led to an immense
amount Of discussion, namely-Is cholera
Il contagious malady or not? DR.. Shrimp
ton proRoances, in the most decided man
ner, against the theory Of contag on,
founding his opinion, first, on his own
experience during the invasion Of the
formidable malady in France in 1892.
ls49, 1853, 1854, aud lately in 1865; and
next on the facts and observations set
forth in the works of several of his
learned colleagues, who have most fire.
quenily had the opportunity Of watching
The disease in India, where its ravages
have been so awfully depopuiating. But
if the cholera is contagious, how IS it pro
iuced, and in what p%ropagated =!
DR.. Shrimpton on these points expressed
himself rs follows: Without pretending
10 give any absolute decision, for we do
not consider ourselves more able than
others to penetrate a mystery which
has hitherto bafied all inquiry, We
feel justified in saying hat we attribute
the propagation OF cholera TO an cleo
trio action, which acts directly ONE
what in the same manner as light
ming, on the nervous system of Or
ganic life. We do not require any great
stock Of modesty to confess that, IS to this
electric action, we should not be able to
demonstrate it scientifically but its ex-
istence nevertheless appears to Us Ger
tain; in admitting it, we clearly explain
to ourselves the character OF cholera, its
progress, even its propagation in reject
ing it, We see only ineNpiicable enigmas,
which become the more and more obscure
in proportion as they are more deeply
studied. This opinion, moreover, is not
ours alone; many eminent physicians
share it with US. We should wish all to
be well convinced that researches must be
made in this direction by those who de-
eire to arrive az Il legitimate conclusion
as to the mode in which cholera is props-
gated. With that view we recommend
20 our readers the following observations,
which we have often repeated, and which
they may have made or may make rs
well as ourselves. The cholera attacks
persons the farthcst removed from all
contact with patients, prisoners in their
cells, women confined, and sequestered
EhEA AAOul NAInf IL AAAtNAss ASV4NAtA III
diYiduals at sea and in deserts. No bar
rier, no quarantine, no sanitary Gordon
can prevent the approach Of cholera,
whatever care may be taken to keep per-
sons attacked at a distance from the spot
where we are. When the disease makes
its appearance in town, either sporadically
or after the arrival Of an infected person
far from following a regular course and
gradually advancing in any particular
quarter, or from one quarter to another, a
healthy persons may chance TO come in
contact with these having the malady it
strikes on the contrary, suddenly and
simultaneously, on the most opposite
pOints-dOes not make a second victim ii
q family where one has already expired,
while it will carry of several in q family
where no signs of the epidemic had APP
peared, and that in quite a different quar-
aer, often the healthiest or one of the
1ealthiest in the town. Frankly, IL seems
TO US impossible, in presence Of facts SO
positive, not to attribute the propagation
f cholera to some kind of electrical ac
ion still unknown, but not the less real.
and the more SO that the direction n
violence of the wind exercises no iniu-
ence on the extension Of this formidable
malady. Lastly, we believe that thi,
Electrical action, to which We assign the
origin Of the cholera, is the result Of two
forces combined, coming at the same time
from the atmosphere and the earth,
act whichrenders the cholera endemnical;
We are convinced that the electrical infu-
nee affects most seriously those persons
whose nervous system of organic life l.
weakened by moral or physical causes,
such as negligence of the ordinary laws for
preserving health, sensual indulgence,
md. in a word, all these excuses which
occasion a grave depression of the vital
forces.