Connecticut western news., 1873-03-14
Small Pox...Old and New Remedies.

ingularthat certain contagious diseases, especially small pox, spread more Tn the winter season (which, in other re- spects, is the healthiest time of the year, when the cold destroys the mias- mata which flourish in tropical climes and, in hot summers, sometimes visits portions of the temperate zone. But in order to explain this apparent anomaly we have only to consider that in winter large number of the lower classes of people huddle together in nEventilated rooms, in order to shelter themselves against the cold. Of course this is fla vorable to the growth of miasmata, which only. need suitable conditions to propagate themselves. Microscopists have succeeded in tracing the origin of many contagious to parasitic growth, either vegetable or animal, and 1t IS not improbable that this will ultimately be the case with all, the denial of many medical authorities notwithstanding It should, be kept in view that, formerly, equally high authorities used to deny most peremptorily, to several diseases, the origin which is now, beyond the shadow of doubt, proved to be the true one, namely, the growth of ami malcule or vegetable parasites. It should also be considered that the fact of not finding such, in certain cases, IS only 8 negative proof they may be there and the investigator may have failed to find them but other searchers in course of time and with instruments more perfect than we possess at present, or by help of an improved naodus operoaadi, will undoubtedly discover them. Microscopic investigation has only just commenced to be applied in medicine, and the most advanced phy- sicians know now that it is one of the most powerful helps in medical diag- nosis.
 Eruptive levers are diseases of the blood ,; they probably originate in a kind of cata1ytic poison in the system, which may be Q result of parasitic growth, as is the case with fermentation and many other chemical changes. However, the future will decide the question definitely in the meantime we must observe, use our best judg- ment, and apply all the light, as far as the present state of science allows, to combat this class of diseases, among which small pox is one of the most virulent, loathsome and dangerous. In order to be fully convinced of this, one has only to visit small pox hospital and see this interesting disease in allits stages. z-s.z zss .-@s-..- ;.
 In regard to the effectiveness of the protection afforded by vaccination, the statistics show that this discovery, made by Jenner more than century ago, had the most startling influence in staying the smallpox ravages of that time, and it kept the. nations who ac- cepted it comparatively free ;. the ex- peri snce of the physicians of the pres ent day tends in the same direction, and all doubt fostered by some in re- gard to it's effectiveness proceeds solely from want of acquaintance with the facts, which are overwhelming in proof of it's great value to the human race As the health and longevity of vacci- mated persons is on the general average equal to that of others who escape the smallpox without vaccination, there can be no serious objection on that ground The rule laid. down by some, that persons must be yaccinated every seven years is totally arbitrary and without any foundation whatsoever :; different individuals will differ greatly in this respect, and, in order to be safe, it is we'll to try if vaccination will "take in case any danger is appre- hended, even if it has been applied only three or four years ago. If no epidemic is prevailing and the person is exposed to no danger, it is needless to revaccinate every seven years ten years or more may elapse, and we have known individuals who undoubtedly, by a single effective vaccination in child hood have been protected for their whole lives. @
 In regard to the treatment, it must be kept in view that here, as in all erup- | tive fevers, it must have it's course, and cannot be cut short without robbing the patient entirely of his chance of es- cape. Careful guarding against taking cold, good nursing, the mildest possible Ediet, and abstience from irritating food and remedial agents similarly objection able are the first necessities of small pox cases.
 The latest medical journals recon mend two new remedies, which experi- ence has proved to be beneficial. Dr. Revillod, of Geneva, recommends gly- cerin as an exterior application; this, through it's soothing action, diminishes the intensity of the eruption. He mix es it with soap and some mercurial oint- ment. Dr. Carl Nagel, Royal Chancel- l Tor of Health in. Berlin, recommends xylol he has administered this inter nally in eighty cases, thirty-s of which had the smallpox in its worst form, and only four died, which is 8 better result than that of any other remedy thus far known. Xylol, or xylen, is one of the hydrocarbons obtained by the distillation of coal tar, wood tar, or Burmese Petroleum, has the antiseptic properties of carbolic acid from coal, and of creosote from wood. t:s
 It is well-known that many derivatives benzol, of tar, creosote, corbolic acid, toluol, xylol, etc., are all poisons for small organic growths, either vegetable or animal that they, for in stance, at once destroy fermentation by killing the microscopic yeast plant I it is also known that mercurials are es- pecially poisonous to parasites of all fkinds, especially animal ones. These remedies how appear to be effective in small -pox, and this raises the very natural question if it is notan argument for the probability of the theory that this disease also is due to morbid or ganic growth, perhaps in the blood it. self, which produces that violent fever, with the symptoms of pain, nausea, etc., and fnally y works itself out through the skin and mucous membrane by a copious eruption, which is often strong enough to destroy the skin like so many urns, and sometimes even so violentb as to destroy the life of the patient, in the sameway as an extensive scalding does, which is fatal by arresting the tnatural action of the skin, consequen to the annihilatien of it's organic struc- ture.-Soientitfc American.
 .e l.AdulteratfOn of Milk.
 According to MT. J. Alfred Wanklyn