The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-08-15
New Theory Respecting Cholera.

published in Germany by DR.. Max Pettcn-
kobcr, bearing the title: Investigations and
Observations in regard to the propagation Of
Cholera, with reflections on the proper means
Of arrcstins its progress" The author is
Professor Of Medical Chemistry at the Uni
vcrSity Of Munich, and has been employed by
the Government during one year investigating
the progress and mode Of propagation Of the
disease in the principal towns OF bavaria.
The present work is the result Of his and
other physicians researches, in the form Of n
report to tho Government, md has given such
complete satisfaction that its gratnitouS dis.
tribution has been ordered throughout the
kingdom at the expense Of tho Government.
The author advances no new theory, but
produces volume Of facts Of most positive
and conclusive character. These facts could
hardly have been ;.Sccrtaincd with the same
precision in any o.her country; for not only
would it have been impossible to ascertain
age, condition, mode Of life, ETC., Of the sick,
but the patients themselves would not will
linsly have subjected themselves to similar
control. Observations were made in Munich,
Nuremburs AusbuIG, WurtzburS, Rattisbonc
and other places, and the author compares his
results with tho Report Of the mortality OF
Cholera in England, 1884," and the re.
ports on tho cholera in Imlia, during the years
1917, ISIS, and 1919, by james Jameson
He shows concluSiycly that there is no con-
tradiction in these rcports-that the facts rs.
ccrtaincd in India are precisely those which
hayc been observed later in England, and bu,
recently in Bavaria that amy apparent con-
,ratiction is due solely to accompanying CIR
cums.anceS by which the results are modified
and which in part arc mentioned by the all.
thorS themselves. Tlsc facts which DR.. Pet.
,cnkobcr claims 20 have fully established arc
as follows:
]. That it is not contagious, in the usual
sense Of the worl but that it can, ncvcrthc'
less, be carried from one place to another
- That il always follows the usual routes
Of Commerce,
g. That no elevation above the level o
the ocean furnishes guaranty against the
disease, nor is any depth necessarily exposed
to its ravagcS. ,.,,,,,,., :,
Ioatiuy in tho atmosphere. AMI that, conSc
m,cn,ly, the disease is not propagaic'i by cur
| rents uI mir. A..
5. Tina, it is not propaSated 'hr'''s" ''''
water ,,,r,,,h u,o oor,h
: Th,, tho ca-'a receives and dcvclopc'
T. '''s ,' ...t:.ion from the cccrcncnts O
the eho!fEGr fiEGrsous.
'''H:.''That the cXcrcmeMtS from 4 diseased
person thrown into Il sink or priry are capa.
BILE Of transforming the whole mass into :
hearth of cholera contagion.
8. Tint the gases diSensaScl by the de.
composition Of organic substances, especially
Of cerrcm"ni'. penetrate the earth close TO the
surface, md nrc the ca,lSr Of !tyrrS and chOl
cra.
10. That there has not hccn single case
of cholera observed in bavaria that could not
bc Traced to that Species Of infection.
III. That the Ntou!s Of PERSONS afflicted Will
cholcrinr, or that peculiar species Of dnrrlnG
which usually prrcc'lcS cholera, ar more in.
itc,iouS than those who arc actually seized
with the disease.
-. That cholera is always carried to a
place where ii has not yet appeared, by dis.
raScd person, and communicated through eX.
c,rmcn,s, and that there is no other way o.
propagating the disease. Immediate contact
with the patient, inhaling the mir Of the sick
room washing Of tho dead body, nay, even
diS>cctins it after death, docs not communi.
cate the disease.
l3. Not every species Of earth acts on the
process Of decomposition in like manner, and
the capacity for spreading the contugion III
the manner stated varies, III consequence, with
the composition Of the soils on which dwell.
linsS arc built On. rocky foundation, granite
or sandstone, cholera never becomes epidemic
An alluyial soil, uulcrad with lime or clay,
or any other cause which keeps the ground
moist, may become tccinins womb for chol.
era cOntas!Un
II. The cholera. poison may be in person
from one to twcnty.tiSht days without man
iGcstins itself. This fact furnishes measure
for the distance to which il may be carried
from one place to another.
Is. The disease, which is not communica.
ted by contact is carrie, to the inmates OF
houses. sleeping in rooms exposed to the
cholera poison as above cngcndcrcd.
lG. II the cholera. as>prorcd in London, is
more intense and fatal in the plain than on
elevations, it will, on investigation, bc found
that it is owing to the better drainage by
which 6lM is removed before il is dccompoScd,
or before it enters, as in damp and wet soil,
into process Of fermentation. DR.. Pettcn-
kobcr found some Of the worst cases Of chol.
era on hills whcrc the sinks Of houses still
higher situated cmptied into sinks or sewers
Of improper fall. The upper houses were
generally exempt.
II. TO prevent contasion the stools Of
cholcrn patients must be disinfccted before
thoy arc cmpticts. Chloride Of lime only pu-
rifles the mir, but does not destroy the cholera
poison. -.
l8. When strangers from cholera districts
arc expected to arrive, the sinks Of hotels o.
houses whcro they AFRO expected to put up
ought to be disinfected, say once week.
10. Care should be had not to allow any
linen to be washed which is soilci with the
cxcrcmcn,s OF cholera patient. The process
or ,,,cer,t;on IN which soiled clothes nro