The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-03-30

well as white citizens, are cordially invited
to attend the meeting to-day.
Yellow Fever-1ts Origin anu
vention.
The report OF the special committee ap'
pointed by the Howard Association to sug-
gest definite plan for the prevention and
eradication OF yellow fever is q highly valu-
able contribution to discussion which has
been in progress well-nigh ever since the
formation OF this city. 1t was not to be e1-
pected that any committee, however emf
nent, should offer theory which all might
accept as an entirely satisfactory solution OF
an unusually difficult problem, but we un-
dertake to say that the report OF Measrs.
McCrady, Ravenel and Panknin, now printed
by the Howard Association, will cause no
acerbity OF feeling, and, il sustained BY pub
Lie sentiment, must lead to important and
beneficial results. The report is 30 plain in
it's statements as to be ineligible to the un-
professional reader. It is calm and eoncili-
atory in tone, and, above all, has the merit
OF making recommendations which are
equally reasonable and necessary, whether
the theory of the committee as to the nature
Fand origin Of yellow fever be or be not
adopted.
Three different theories are advanced in
relation to yellow fever poison: that 1t is, 81,
.san inorganic resultant Of fermentive de-
composition; or 2, a liieless organic re-
.'sultant of fermentive decomposition; or 3, a
.ltving specific germ capable OF multiplying
s.itself under favorable conditions to an un-
sknown extent, and finding the necessary
s.conditioEs of it's existence and production
s'iu an atmosphere hot and damp, and per-
"vaded with the material Of fermentive de-
scomposition. The committee adopt the
last theory as their basis their plan embra-
cling. efforts directed ID to the destruction
of the germ, and (2) to the removal OF the
conditions OF it's existence. And it must be
borne in mind that, since Fermentive De-
composition is fundamental condition
under all three theories, the committee, by
working under the Specific 6erm theory, are
providing for possible element OF truth in
the others.
There are two classes Of germ, diseases:
Parasitic germ diseases, like smallpox and
scarlet fever, the poison germs OF which find
in the human body the normal conditions OF
their qualification and renewed develop
ment; and diseases which ale caused by
germs, not parasitic in character, which
merely act upon the human system as poi
sonous berries or toadstools would act
that is, being themselves destroyed while
destroying their victim. Such non.parastic
germs find their normal conditions OF de-
yelopment in the earth or air. They may
infest whole district and yet give rise to
no contagious diseases, since the germs,
in an unimpaired condition, never pass out
from the system they may have destroyed.
But the disease. though not contagious,
may be eminently infectious. The atmos-
pheric germs may be carried about in cloth
ing, in trunks, &C., and where the atmos-
pheric conditions are favorable they will i'm
mediately germinate and multiply. The
committee think that yellow fever belongsto
the second-class Of Germ Diseases-the non-
parasitic. Upon this hypothesis the isola.
ton OF the infected patients is absolutely
useless, for here '1he germs OF disease are
''to be sought, not in the patient, but in the
''atmosphere in which he himself was poi
s'soued." all our efforts, therefore, should
be directed: l. To keeping these germs out
of our atmosphere. 2. To destroying them
after they have appeared there.
The committee, in their general discus
sion, take it as q fundamental fact that the
most violent form of yellow fever 'is killed
s'down by the frost and ice OF winter
Wherever the winters cold is allowed freely
to penetrate, trhe yellow fever poison is
"cancelled," but where it does not penetrate
the germs may be preserved, and, when e1-
posed to light and air, at temperature be-
l"CSu " oCS5 ouN w oc5'y WIZ hiooe PhOC~
bly, awaken to full vital activity and begin
'.to multiply and spread themselves over a
''greater or less area" Experience proves
that yellow fever has it's origin in a small
focus, as the hold Of vessel or an opened
drain, the extent and rapidity Of it's spread
being dependent upon the condition Of the
| atmosphere. Suppose that the atmosphere,
at temperature OF about so deg, be laden
with moisture and innumerable particles Of
animal matter bordering on decomposition.
II small quantity Of yellow fever poison
germs be introduced, '.it will at once begin
''to multiply in geon,etrical ratio, and un-
''less checked by the temporary or local ab-
s'sence of some one OF the conditions, will at
first slowly, then more rapidly, extend itself
Through the neighborhood in which it was
"placed, until at last, by few sudden
''bounds, it leavens the whole mass OF the
'air." Why is it, then, that yellow fever
sometimes appears in particular locality,
spreads for certain time in the immediate
vicinity, and then, as il it had encountered
some invisible barrier, suddenly ceases TO