Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1882-04-22
ORIGIN OF DISEASE.

hdHN NIsctstS Nuuoc VI OHSc occiucu III |
volved in an impenetrable obscurty, have,
with the stimulus given by the rm-theory
to Investigations into the natural history of
specific diseases, been distinctly traced to the
ngestion of diseased foo6. And the striking
and important results of these investigations
as they become more generally known, must
sooner or later, according to the respective ell
lightenment of different communities, give rise
TO legislation upon the matter and to precau-
tons among individuals, as to the selection and
preparation Of food and drink. From what has
already been learned upon these matters, it is
clear that legal interference, may, in the here
after, be productive of much good in the abate-
ment or abolition of certain diseases which
have been productive of large measure of
mortality in the animal kingdom, and more es-
Veciaily in man.
When we receive cholera or typhoid, it has
been demonstrated almost beyond doubt that
,ho germs Of tho disease must, with rare ex-
cepdans, have been swallowed either with food
or drink, for it has been established that
neither disease is either infectious or conta-
I sicus in the usual acceptation Of those terms :
but that emauations from the sick contomiua-
ting water " hich is drank, will lead almost i'll
riaJly 20 the production of the disease cor
responding with that of the patient from whom
tho emanaiious are derived An epidemic of
typhoid which occurred near London some
years since, was made a matter of careful off,
cial investigation, and, after the expenditure
of much time and research, its source was dis
tinctly traced to the milk supplied by certain
dealer in that article. No house had a case
but such as had been supplied by this particu-
lar dealer, and no person in any house where
tho disease prevailed had been attacked but
| such as had used the milk in question, and nc
house supplied with this milk was entirely ex-
empt from the disease, excepting those in which
it was the habit to boil the milk before using
it. The milkman, himself, ultimately died oi
the disease, 1t was found that his son had
come from abroad with the disease in its in.
cipiency; and, finally, that the sewer pipe OF
the house was leaking into the drain in which
it was the habit to wash the milk cans.
1t is known that many animals useful tc
man in supplying him with food are subject tc
various diseases corresponding to those occur.
ring in tho human family, such as cancer
tuberculosis, trichina, tenis, and others too nu.
merous, and needless for our present purpose
to mention; and it has been proved that they
are communicable from animals to man, eitbe
by means Of their milk which we drink, or by
their flesh which we eat; aud it is certainly
reasonable thar we should lock with certain
| 4 nF Car 81. r.. 4
precautions against their unnecessary intro
ductiOn among human beings, as are consisten
with common sense aud the indications at hand
The effects of heat in destroying tho vitality o
most Of these disease germs il well known, AN,
to the common practice of cooking our food is
doubtless, owing greater immunity from thei
ravages than we would otherwise experience
but, still, we eat raw ham and bacon, smoke,
sausages, and uncooked cheese and milk, iron
either Of which articles may be readily derive,
the germs Of any OF the diseases we have men
toned. Late researches, however, tend +
show that the germ Of tubercle s difficult L
destroy by heat, and that It may retain its vi
taliiy even in well cooked meat; so that III
parent inay not always be to blame for what /
supposed to be hereditary phihisis in the child
, Reliable authorities OF the present day poin
with little doubt TO bovine tuberculosis as th
most frequent source Of pulmonary phthisis i
man 10 tho growing disparagement Of the olde
hypothesis. that it was disease, the propa
cation Of which was almost solely dcpenden
upon hereditary transmission. This being ia
I case, there Is no sense in our regarding ii
1 sale u sabsrenlosed meat in aDy other ligh
tlna the vendi0g q poisonous food, asains
which iesd provision should be made. /
Europe, and elsewhere, Il has been iouud ll,a
sesto. ihis description, and milk from CIV
\ lasaE tle dissaae, is ofien seili bu, ih.
. ptauf ipsqeeiian oi meai rlil olien diseoye
So rahAgitaone eiar1c.a.
a NaW, ilsge \ ~ rYasea NhJ ~ sbonia i
5.hiaA il.e iines ia providing our communit
. vilA ali ihs protection p4sais'e in ccnsorane
ab uhsi knoaieisc nay be acqaifcd upon IL
iofet ef iha alubiic veadiug q upphoiesoni
els, sAe.hsr b diseased meaia o. q o.As
sl.msnis Ike bssai. -four OF rice, adaltera,e'