The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-07-01
The Pl,gue of the House.
FROM TIE NOTEBOOK OF A PHYSICIAN.


Theolocians have been extremely puz-
zled to determine what the great Jewish
law-giver meant by the terms, 'leprosy
of the house." AMI "loprosy of the gar
ments." That 1t was something highly
detrimental, not only to the house and the
garments. but to the occupants, may be
inferred from the injunctions given for its
destruction. The house was to be vaca-
ted and cleansed; the stones affected were
to be removed out of the city; the walls
were to be scraped. etc. And II, after the
prescribed treat ment. the leprosy remain
ed, the house was 10 be destroyed, and the
stones thrown into somo unclean place
without the city. Garments affected with
leprosy required equal care In their puri-
ficatiOn.
It is now very generally believed that
the leprosy of tho house and Of the gal
ments Is the mildew of damp and moist
places, which the microscope reveals to
us as fungus or plant growth. Two va.
rietics Of leprosy are mentioned In the 10
vitical account-viz: reddish and green
ish. The former Is commonly known rs
the dry rot, (rnerc,ilius iachrymans Of the
botsnist,) and appears wherever there arc
moisture, warmth. and stagnant air. 1t
Is quite universal In Its prevalence, but Is
found more frequently In wood and or
ganic substances, placed under the condi-
tions above givcn-as In tho hollow places
of trees, in the framework Of ships, and
in the timbers Of houses. At first 1t re-
sembles spiders web. spreading, by
means of fine white threads, from COM
mon centre. Gradually 1t becomes con-
soltlated into yellowish-white mass, like
n cushion. and may be seen In great NUM-
hers In the crevices Of the wood or wall
infected. As the vegetable grows toward
maturity. these masses become covered
with reddish veins, which emit drops OF
water, and hence the name lachrymans
(wceping). At maturity, this plant sheds
an immense growth Of seeds. 50 minute
rs to float unperceived In the air, but hav-
ing such vitality that when they fall into
a congenial soil, they Immediately tako
root. Thus the fungus spreads with
amazing rapidly In places adapted to its
development. The destructive effects Of
this plant upon wood are well known to
ship and house carpenters. The tenncity
of the fibre Is destroyed, and the wood
falls In pieces like sand. Ships. once af-
fected. are soon rendered useless, and
houses fall into irremcdiable dilapidation.
II Is only by the complete removal OF do
cay II can be arrested; and for complete
restoration, the sunlight and fresh air are
Indispensable.
The grecnish color Is doubtless due to
another fungus, more generally seen than
the rcddish-namely mildew or common
mould, (penicilium giaucum.) This plant
finds proper soil In every place where
moisture. warmth, shade and stagnant
air exist together, and even where but
the two conditions, moisture and warmth
coexist. The housewife finds Il In tho cel-
lar upon her preserves, In the crcvices of
the loaf of stale bread, fringing pump
kin pie, covering the vinegar. and among
her linen which has been packed away
when damp. The farmer finds Il In every
shaded nook. upon his Sunday boots. on
old harnesses and saddles. on tho damp
hay and grain. In the granary, on vegeta-
bles. etc. It Is prolific to q most extra
ordinary degree; Its germs fill the air Of
our rooms, penetrate our lungs, ill our
clothing. and wherever they can find .
place for termination. take root and null
tiply so rapidly as often 10 excite the sur
prise of those most familiar with Il Like
the reddish. the greenish leprosy Is do
structive Of the house and garments.
Every article upon which it grows will
sooner oflatcr undergo decay. and become
useless. except where ferment Is neces-
sary to its utility.
But those forms Of lcprosy aro not, un-