Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-10-23

therefore. from the point Of view Of the
germ theory, the exceptional energy
which epidemic disease from time 70
time exhibits d not out OF harmony with
the method Of nature.
Let us indulge speculation as to
what those surrounding conditions may
be which receive or repel the contaEium
OF yellow fever That 1t is formed de
moro, in putressent atmosphere very
much doubt, and | doubt il for this rea-
son; Occasionally the yellow fever is
epidemic at the Bermuda Islands, 800
miles east of Cape Fear, N. @. The
cluster is about twelve miles north 10
south and about three miles broad. The
formation is that Of the coral insect the
islands are broken and rolling, and there
is neither marsh. pond or place to form
miasm or mephitic yapors. The towns
are too small, and the streets too steep,
to permit Of any very great accpmula-
ton Of Filth. In fact. ! thought the vii.
lagos exceptionally clean. Taken as a
whole, l have never seen any spot which
TO the eye seems more inviting. Yet
these fairy isles, so lovely TO look upon,
aud so entirely free from stencil and
gases. swept, as it is, eternally by the
health-giving and purifying wind Of the
ocean, are subject to visitation from the
yellow fever psstilence. This, to my
mind, precludes the idea Of a local
cause, because do not believe that one
could exist in Bermuda, as it would be
either washed or blown into the sea.
For our part, we believe that the yellow
fever contagium is neither repealed or
invited by any atmospheric influence,
but when it is inert, or will not repro
duce itself, il has met with a parasite
enemy iohieh destroys II. Leaving the
realm of parasites. infusoria and ami
malcule, and going to that Of the in
sects, we find one kind preying upon
another; so of fishes, reptiles, birds and
beasts. Why should not the same nat
ural law govern in the kingdom of the
mites2 Let us see if we cannot find
some data which will help US to con-
clusion. 1t has been found that the
vaccine virus contains living germs
when it takes" and in the absence OF
these germs the matter is worthless; and
it has been found further that certain
number of these germs must be intro
duced before the virus will exert itself.
In other words, you must introduce
cocks and hens of these infinitessimal
parasites to breed others. Smallpox is
likewise a germ. Now, in what way
does the vaccine germ prevent the entry
and depreciation of the smallpox germ I
Does he fortify the passage, leave behind
him remains which disgusts his enemy,
or does he continue in and about
the person and wage active war against
him? Dengue is said TO be the
acclimating fever, which insurcS you
against yellow fever. Is dengue vac
CT nation2 That the negro possesses
abost the person, either in his peculiar
odor, or in friendly parasite, the means
Of repelling the invader, is undoubted.
In fact, the odor may be the influence OF
the friendly parasite. When yellow
fever is'' invited, the friendly parasite
is off guard from some reason or other.
1t has been our purpose to endeavor to
show that yellow fever is due to parasitic
influence, in order to show hew it may
be estopped in future efforts to depre-
date on our population. If | have sue
ceeded in my effort, the plan I shall lay
down in my next paper for dealing with
epidemics will seem rational, otherwise
not.
NoTE.-There are many other matters Of in
terest connected with this subject which the
narrow limits of daily newspaper preclude
from discussion. One is the provision, OF ma
ture which permits the hostile parasite to dep
rebate but certain period in given place in
and wear out in sixty or seventy days.