The New York herald., 1879-08-11

most trivial circumstances have been known to pre-
cptate crisis, aud the nauseating odors OF a SICK
room at such juncture may. and likely will. prove
the exciting cause of their appalling manifestation
DIR. c. B. White, of New Orleans. at one time presi-
1878 .that had perfectly satisfied by per-
sona experience that IL the infected place could De
entirely encrced by disnfectants until the enclosure
itself could be thoroughly disinfected 1T would De
impossible for the disease to spread" He said 'the
practice hitherto had been to follow after the fever
with dsinfectants not to meet it," He utterly con-
demns the of carbolic acid. and telegram from
New Orleans to the NEW YORK HERALD, September
8. 1873. during the epidemic. says:"fhe use OF car
bolic acid and sulphur fumigations have failed most
Junghaus states that .'csrbolc acid when tried on
the battetelds in France did not disinfect but only
retarded putrefaction.''
Professor Calvert says:-"Carbolic acid destroys
the causes OF putrefaction without acting on the
NJ Hoeckel. Academy of Sciences. Paris. October,
1878, states :-"Carbolic acid suspends termination
without arrestng it altogether"
A telegram to the New York Daily Times August
27. 1S7S from New Orleans. says s:-''Fearing the
baneful effects Of carbolc acid the sick the fum
eating of houses at this the of general epidemic
is severely commented upon by many of the older
doctors;" and on September 4. 1873. the New YORK
HERALD received the following telegram "a change
of disinfectants. In the last few days we notice
decided change In the use OF disinfectants Carboic
acid has now disappeared we hope forever.
The carbolic, there can be no question, has many
death to answer for. Its effect upon the nervous
systems of the sick at all times and everywhere
noticeable" !" aud further telegram from New Or
leans dated September s. to the HERALD says 1.-THE
untiring efforts toward the determination of lhe
fever germs by the use of carbolic acid and sulphur
fumigation have failed most sgnally."
Thus it will be seen without further evidence that
two of the articles recommended by the National
Board have been proved not only ineticacous but
positively hurtfu far yellow fever is concerned.
and that too by health officers and most respectable
physicians of New Orleans. who were most anxiously
using every known and supposed valuable means
for the prevention and destruction OF this fever
poison.
Further on in this circular the Executive Com
m1ttee
declaration, that mo patented compound known to
the Board is superior as dsinfecsnt to the agents
cdried germs9 above mentioned. and none is 80
cheap. Some OF these patent disinfectants are
good deodorants but the removal OF an unpleasant
odor il proof that true disintection has been
complished. Hence must infer that to substi-
tue one vile disgusting odor for another. perhaps
NOT as onensivs. must be true disiniection. with
pounds. patented and without patents that not only
deodorizc but accomplish true disintection-viz. by
destroying organic matter and arresting putrefac-
ton and decomposition.
Not to prolong this article al allow me to
add one more remark in noticing article + under the
"every suspicious case should be at isolated,
and every possible precaution taken to prevent in
disease and thorough disntection OF all discharges
from the sick. II the disease proves to be yellow
the sick should be burned, the house should be
Gated and every room tightly closed and fumigated
with burning phur." Here see the grand cul-
this National Board of Health expressed in this
last sentence. IF the disease proves be yellow
cured ordpsry Are Wi e not snse hs then Ds add
burning sulphur and make it sure.
To the terror-stricken people of the South this
"circular must be boon, and we can only conceive
OF the Mephistophelian laugh of derison that can
not but be made by every gentleman in the medical
pusillanimity Of such trash which the merest tyro
in practical sanitation ought at least to understand
better. 1t is really nothing more less than in
suit upon the intelligence of scientific hygiene, rs
practised both at home and abroad.
What small consolation must this emanation afford
to people who fee their homes driven by this dread
full scourge. abandoning property. friends and coun
try, crying 'inly for the help that science but
does not afford; and to those hastily constituted
boards of health. relief committees and sefsacrifc
ing individuals who throw their lives in the breach
to aid their fellow man. when with outstretched
GUAR Of this SUPPOSED rrcst head centre Of nforma
ton as to what and how to do and to act in their
great distress! MOREAU MORRIS. NJ. D.
4. YELLOW FEVER AND TEMPERATURE.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Under the above heading there appeared in the
NEW YORK HERALD Of 9th July editorial referring
to the death of Joanna Brennan. refugee from Mem
phis. who died in this city Of yellow fever. The
ticle closes with the sentences:-
But even il we suppose that the elements from
which the disease could be reproduced brought
find here the conditions in which they can thrive.
If the hot period we had several days since on
now ordinary weather, II temperature like
that should persist for thirty days. then the yellow
fever might spread. Otherwise its spread is simply
impossible. .>
It is there surmised that hot summer weather,
such as is above ninety degrees. with medium
temperature over eighty degrees. is more favora-
BILE to the propagation Of yellow fever than
comparatively cool summer weather with daily
average temperature Of some seventy degrees
Fahrenheit. and that the latter prevents the
spread Of and is bar against such epidemics. It
may be ad limited that such similar ideas most
generally entertained; nevertheless they wrong
and misleading. Excessive heat destroys epidemics
az sure and well excessive cold weather. and
hot summer or q cold winter is healthier than q
cool summer mild winter. under otherwise the
same conditions.
To inteligently understand the effect OF tempera-
bered that decay and putrefaction can only take
place and proceed at certain moderate temperature
which is narrowly limited. and that the most vio-
lent process of decay. fermentation. il ordinarily
limited by temperature between ffty-fve and eighty
degrees Fahrenheit. Below and above this tempera-
ture little fermentation will proceed. 1t is
boiling heat which to preserve milk, eggs
tuas.
Comparing the range Of temperature during the
last prevalence of the yellow fever in the Southern
States with its decrease and increase we And the
same relation existing, which is here explained in
accordance with the general law Of nature govern
Ing all other proceedings OF decay and fermentation.
Hence. instead of feeling secure on account of the
cool summer we now enjoy we ought to be more
watchful SIGISMUND BEER.