The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-08-10

DR. McCLELLAS's REPORT on CHoLE-
Rat will be recOllected that the chol-
era epidemic in this country during 1878
caused such widespread alarm thai Con-
gress passed 4 resolution directing the
Secretary Of War to appoint an army
surgeon to visit the different infected
localities, and to study the disease in all
its bearings. DR.. Ely Mcclellan was Sc
lected for this purpose, and visited Wheel
ing last summer and consulted with our
Health Officer several days.
DR.. Mcclellan has probably furnished
one Of the most exhaustive histories OF the
cholera ever published in this country,
and as some OF his conclusions may be OF
interest at the season Of the year when
the disease is liable to make its appear
aAce, We give them below:
~. That Asiatic cholera is an infectious
disease resulting from an organic poison,
which, gaining entrance into the ali.
meutary canal, acts primarily upon and
destroys the intertinal cpithelium.
al. That the active agents in the dis
tribution OF the cholera poison NrO the
OBJECTIONS Of persons suffering from the
disease in any Of its stages, That in these
objections there exists an organic matter,
which, at . certain stage OF dccOmpOsi-
ton, Is capable OF reproducing the
disease in the human organism TO which
it has gained access.
I'll. That cholcra-dejCcta coming in
contact with aud drying upon any objects,
such as articles Of clothing, bedding and
furniture, will retain indefinitely their
power OF infection. That in this manner
a sure transmissibility Of the cholera in
| lection is effected, and that distinct out
break OF the disease may occur by such
means at great distances from the seat Of
original injection.
Nv, That the specific poison which
produces the disease known rs the cholera
originates alone in India,a that by vir-
tue OF its transmissibility through the
persons Of infected individuals, or in the
meshes OF infected febrics, the disease is
carried into all quarters OF the world,
That cholera has never yet appeard in
the Western hemisphere until after its
route Of pestilential march has been begun
Ia the Eastern wOrld,and that i,s epidemic
appearance upon the North American
continent has invariably been preceded
by the arrival of vessels infected with
chOlera-sick, or laden with emigrants
and their property from infected dis
trictS.
az. That therespirutOry and digestive
organs are the avenues through which in
dividual infection is accomplished; that
through the atmosphere Of infected lOCali-
titles, cholera Is frequently communicate
ed to individuals; that water may become
contaminated with the specific poison
OF cholera from the atmosphere, from sur
-washings, from neglected sewers, cess.
pools, or pFivies, and that the use Of
water so infected will induce an outbreak
of the disease.
"VI. That the virulence Of a cholera
demonstration, the Contagion having
been introduced into community, Is in
luenced by the hygienic condition Of the
population, and not by any geological
formation upon which they may reside.
"VII. That one attack Of cholera i'm
parts to the individual noimmunity from
the disease In the future, but that the
contrary seems to be established"