The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-29
YELLOW FEVER.

g NEW ORLEANS. April %. 1879.
TO the Editor Of the Democrat:
Having read lately In the newspapers the dis
EMISSIONS arising from the various plans sug-
rested for the disinfection OF yellow fever In
facted places by extreme cold. and having my
self proposed nearly the same thing eleven
Years arc. during the epidemic OF 1867. to, q we'll
known physician OF this city. who is now dead.
/ desire Mr.. Editor. with your permission. to
rive the public. through the columns OF your
popular journal. the benefit OF some observa-
tions which / made.
In the summer OF 1871 I was engaged In
operating refrigerating machine. which de-
signed for Mr.. George Merz for the purpose Of
producing low degree OF temperature In MS
ale fermenting cellar. which had q cubical con-
tent of about 35 600 cubic feet, and Into which
The casks containing the fermenting ale were
placed In rows. The floor was thoroughly
washed with lime water and the doors and VEN
tilators we're closed tightly.
The refrigerating apparatus was then put to
work upon the air Of the cellar. by withdraw
ing with an exhaust fan the vitiated air and
gases from the furihest end Of the cellar. near
The ceiling, and forcing II back through null
kfubular iron cylinder so1aich contained eraDo-
rating. an1lVdyous liqaefed ammonia. into the op-
posite end OF the cellar, near the floor. When
the refrigerator had been working three
fourths OF an hour. upon looking at the exit end
OF the cylinder, where the cold air emerged into
the cellar. was rather surprised at the large
quantity OF condensed water collected there,
said condensed water being no other than the
aqueous vapors from the atmosphere in the
cellar. Having quart glass bottle with glass
stopper at hand. / washed 1t thoroughly and
filed 1t up to the neck with the condensed mois-
ture. which was quite transparent and clear as
rain water. I then put it away In a dark cor
ner where 1t remained for two weeks undfs-
turbed untii took Il % and looked o. IT.. the
upper surface OF the liquid. about one-efghth
OF an inch In thickness. was a visceous semi
could bs seen myriads Of filliforms moving
about III Gil directions. They resembled minute
silk threads about ne-sixteenrh OF an lnch IN
tice but very little smell, and finally, threw
away the contents Of the bottle. determined %
repeat the experiment q second time. feW
days afterwards, when did so, the inch tubes
10 the refrigerating cylinder, through which the
air was forced back into the cellar, we're nearly
frozen solid and had e stop the mag machine the
same bottle. washed II vel aud filed y again
with the condens ed yapors, which this time
Peer fer the aP snH pht m
amined It failed to see any sign Of life The
liquio1his time was milky. and q strong fetid
stopper. Now Mr.. Editor. whilst do not pre-.
tend to lay any special claims to the mode OF
cooling the air employed. which at the time
Wassrather Imperfect. or whether yellow fever
germs, II they do exist. are analogous to those /
saw. In the bottle, | am fully convinced that
In the first case the germs we're not DESTROYED.
whilst In the second they were killed by the
frost. as the .refrigerating liquid ceased to
evaporate freely. within The cylinder: the tenn
nerature must have been near to 40 degrees
Fahrenheit in the tabe. | am also fully con.
WINGED that intense cold when properly applied
will destroy any living organisms which may
be floating in the atmosphere. and 1t ID we'll
known fact that under the influence Of the alb
sorption of heat the hygrometric condition OF
the air becomes modified and changed to such
an extent as TO prevent the development Of any
organic or inorganic matter.
FRANCIS v. DECOPPET,
Engineer. 70 Cont street.