Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-09-27
rnE GER n Theory IN DISEASE.
10y Osonor " orr

I
beginning, however, lei me say that
have nothing TO advance OF my own
but propose simply 70 reduce ,ne pro
portions OF the contributions OF other
into space admissible in a daily news
paper. make my frat requlsltion OF
Professor Tyndall. drawing from hi
ESSAY ION Dust and Disease, Tha
gentleman saws: believe IL 10 bl
perfectly we'll established that durinG
epidemics air and water are charged
with the specific materies morbl by
which the disease is spread that these
two media are, in fact the chief vehicles
az ia dissemination. l believe there
are the strongest grounds for holding
the contagious matter 10 be par
ticulate; apd further, that the partl'
eles are 10 all intents aud purposes
oerms exhibiting as they do the tunda'
mental characteristic Of propagating
their own kind through countless genera
tons, and over vast geographical areas;
Their lie and reproduction run parallel
10 and are an incident OF the life OF man
himself" The professor shows by dem,
onstraton that the air is always, and
under all conditions, charged with a
large amount Of organic matter, which Is
the cause Of putreiaction IN meats, gan,
grenous wounds and ulcer0us sores and
that chemistry, when appealed TO, an
swers that il cannot explain the mystery.
Hence he concludes that the trouble
must come from parasitic influence.
Many reasons Tor this conclusion are
given. Advancing a step iurther ne
enters upon the field TO show that epI-
demic diseases are due 10 germs winch
aoat in the atmosphere, enter the body,
and produce disturbance by the develop
ment within the body of parasitic life.
at is commended" he says, that these
endemic diseases literally plaRt their
seeds. grow, and shake abroad new
germs. which, meeting in the hu.
man body their proper food and
temperature, finally take possession, oil
whole populations. Inc
matter of each contagious disease re-
produces itself as rigidly as if it we're las
Miss Nightingale puts IT., dog or cat.
Hs has no belief in spontaneous genera
tion of disease, or anything else. When,
ever an epidemic has appesred careful
Investigation will show that the oonta-
zion has been conveyed from some other
noint or had remained latent, and had
been excited from cause, which cause
can be shown-shown. In fact, that cpl
demic disease requires a special contag
ion 10 produce it, but surrounding con
ditions must have potent influence IN
its DEVELOPMENT Fact after fact is ad-
duced to fortliy this position. To quote
again: "If YOU see a new thistle grow
Ing in your field, you feel sure that the
iced has been waited thithef. just as
srrs does il seem that the contagious
matter Of scarledns, or any other con
tarious fever, has been Fansplauted to
the place where it newly appears.
Reading the facts aud arguments
brought forward by the great savant,
one Is cohstrained to believe that,
of ali the theories, this is the
most plausible. In the course OF
the argument the case of the diseov-
ery of the cause Of the silkworm dis
ease in France is cited. The disease
was shown to be parasitic and traced by
blood corpuscles in the sick worms.
The black.yomit of a person who died OF
yellow fever some days since was sub
mitted to inspection under the micro
scope, and blood eorpgseLes appeared,
which would mark that disease as par
asitic. Doctor Budd of Bristol advocates
the germ theory, as does also the emf
nent surgeon, Lister, of the Edinburgh
University. These are but few, but
the names Of many other distinguished
saeants might be mentioned as favoring
the same side Of the question.
We can expect to derive much profit
from an Investigation Ike the above. II
the germ theory is correct if the disease
is due to parasites, we may deter
mine with some degree of certain
ty in what manner to proceed in
order to stay its progress. Instantly
upon the appearance OF yellow
| fever prompt aud efficient means should
be TAKEN to purify every square foot Of
the city, 50 tEat the contagion may have
no friendly Influences in its favor, in
either air, water or earth This should
be done within twenty-four hours after
the appearance Of the first case. Every
case should be cut of from the remain
der Of the city by the fumes OF carbolic
acid, chlorine or sulphurous aoid gas
and every householder should be com
PEELED to fumigate the front and rear OF
| his premises each night. At night, be-
cause It is believed that the yellow fever
parasite Is Z night flying moth, and
would rot be ineesvsBieneed or de-
stroyed by day fumigations. The cloth
| iEa of physicians and nurses should be
thoroughly fpmigated often during their
attendance on { case, and certainly be
fore they have communication with
others not so attending The dead
bodies Of persons dying Of yellow fever
should be washed With dilute earbolic
acid as promptly 9fter death as possible,
and burial should osslF as soon as prac-
ticable. To see that ihess things are
4 done, and enforce it, We should have :
Board Of Health, composed OF not more
than three gembers, who should be men
of character aud Intelligence and espe-
cially noted for pFomptnefs IN action.
( They should be paid for their services
aud clothed with extraordinary powers
in the line Of their duty, and then be
held 10 a strict accountability for the
sanitary condition of tbs City. Means
of investigation should be furnished
them; books, periodicals and papers
should be placed within their reach that
no item Of hygi enc should escape theiF
notice. And when board Of the char,
Se;er described shall declare a measure
ne eessary, let there be no power in any
council or official to veto IL. Let science
in such matters stand upon q plane
someghat higher than thai occupied BY
the trades and professions. am aware
that COlopel Skinaiut aud Major
Centpereeat viii object TO all this be,
cause it will create taxation. Indeed
Five thousand persons arc cut Of town
spending money abroad. Each per.
son will spend a hundred dollars be.
fore the fever panic subsidies, which
will naka an auyrprafo of half q