Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-09-07

another absurd error in attributinp
bilious fever to carbonic gases. --.---
How it ever had an existence
among physicians having knowledge
of that gas must forever remain to me
an unexplainedmystery. The presence
of it in the air is very. easily discov;
cred, but experience proves that it does
not exist in undue quantities in places
where bilious diseases prevail. Much
less does it exist in quantities proper
toned to the disease. But this is not
ali. Whatever way carbonics acid ga.
may be applied, the effects produced
on the human system are entirely diff
ferent to bilious malaria. Measles,
scarlatina and small pox aye much
more alike. We're the hypothesis which
1 ain opposing true.
The attendants an lime kilns, where
large quantities are hourly generated.
would never be free from bilious fever.
1t would attack us by our firesides, the
oil in our lamps would be fruitful cause
of bilious malaria. The Laplander's
hut during his long night Of winter
would be great laboratory of bilious
malaria. Yet how strange it is that
during that period he does not
suffer from the disease which
poison is known to produce: Even the
chemist in his laboratory will suffer
while preparing carbonic acid gas. In
a more especial manner. what would
become OF the beer. and porter aud
soda water drinkers, who are swallow
ing by the hour deep rotations of the !
repnted miasm. In that case every
keg Of beer would he franght with the |
seeds OF bilious malaria, and every
soda fountain rich in poison as the |
pontine marshes This question is lu- !
dicrous, and had it not ymeeiyed the !
sanction Of physicians of some stand
ing, | should not even give it pas
There is still another notion respec-
ting the cause of bilious fever / shall |
notice-whiie passing along 1t is that
which attributes bilious fever to the |
hyypercarbonization of the blood. This !
L would say Is a gross error founded on !
the slightest conjecture. The blood
OF bilious fever patients, says its adj
vocates, is always preternatnraIly dark
colored. From holding superabun-
dance OF carbon, as a general rule, the
blood OF bilious fever Eatients is not /
dark. 1t assumes that color under GER
tain circumstances which have no con
nexion with carbon Twill venture to +
say that the venous blood in bilious fever
patients is oftener preternaturaly for
i'd than it is preternatrlraly dark Dur
ing the excitement Of the fever,~the |
blood is always high; but whenfsen-
gestion takes place. it is dark. In fact
in every case where the circulation il
torpid the blood is dark: but during
the stage of excitement when the cir
culation is free, it is always bright col
ored. This hypothesis has been unjust
to animal chemistry and should receive
no countenance from the real physi-
ologist. In its proper sphere, chemis-
Try Is delightful science. None can
be more so. But it is concerned en-
tirely with dead matter. With life,
and all its attributes, it is at war. 1t
is the great antagonist of life, and Lille
of it. Chemicalcanse produce chemi-
cal effects, and vital causes vital effects.
The living body is as entirely beyond
its scope as the structure OF unseen
worlds is to our sight. -. ---.
Another hypothesis respecting the
malaria question, which has found al
vocates of some responsibility, is that
nc such poison exists. but that bilious
fever results exclusively from excessive
heat, moisture and changes in the
My reply to this will he brief, and,
trust, satisfactory.
iTo BE CONTINUED. toi