Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-11-02
PROOF THAT THE BURIAL OF YELLOW
FEVER PATIENTS AIDS tbs SPREAD
OF THE DIsEAsE.

There is now officially published in the
Consular Reports the paper forwarded by
Minister Andrews to the State Depart
ment relative to the scientific experiments
made at Rio de Janeiro, showing the trans
mission of yellow fever by contagion.
Blood was taken from the heart of one who
died of yellow fever, and, being placed
under the microscope, revealed the pres
ence of the cryptococci, now considered to
constitute the characteristic of the dis
ease. These organisms were found in all
stages of development, from the size of
black points to large round grayish cells,
with brilliant point in the center. Some
OF the blood was injected into the veins OF
rabbit by DR.. Doria. In fifteen minutes
tetaniform commissions appeared and the
animal soon succumbed. An autopsy
showed in the animal visceral congestions
analogous to those found in the corpses of
yellow fever victims, and some of the
cryptococci were again found. To put the
matter perfectly at rest, beyond the doubt
of error, the operators then took gram of
the blood of the rabbit aud innoculated
Guinea pig. At the end of some hours it
died, and the autopsy revealed a great
quantity of the cryptococci in its blood
and all the anatomo. pathologic LESSONS usu-
ally characterizing the yellow fever ap.
peared. Still further was the experiment
carried. One gram of the blood of the pig
was then taken and hypodermically in
jected into another Guinea pig In short
time it sickened and died, and the autopsy
showed in its blood an infnity of cryptic.
cocci. This, it is deemed, proves
conclusively the contagious transmits.
sion of tho disease. It proves, too.
that not only is yellow fever propagated by
contagion from individual to individual, but
that it is primitively contagious disease
and may become infectious as soon as suf-
ficiently many focuses accumulate. The
experiments proved also that the disease
resides not in any organ, but wherever the
blood courses. DR.. Freire was of the
opinion that the experiments demonstrated
the parasitic nature of yellow fever. By
some experiments of his own the same
scientist proved the existence in the black
vomit Of an alkaloid in the state of a salt
which be believes is the result of secretion
or excretion Of the microbii, and that both
the alkaloid and the microbius are factors
of the morbid state. He also found that
he could cultivate the cryptococcus in gel.
atine within a globe. By this means he
established that the black vomit is not due
to the altered blood but TO the cryptoeoe.
Gus, and so he actually obtained an arti.
fetal black vomit. He took some of the
earth from the grave Of a man who had
died year before of yellow fever, and
without difficulty produced the same arti.
fetal black vomit. The Importance of this
discovery can scarcely be overestimated.
1t is the strongest testimony yet given of
the necessity for cremation in all cases of
yellow fever. or cholera. Some of the
same soil from the same grave was put into
the cage of a Guinea pig, the blood of
which was, by microscopic and other ex.
animation, first proved to be perfectly
healthful and pure. The cage was closed.
In FIVE days the animal died, and examina-
tion showed its blood to be swarming with
the cryptococcus in all stages of evolu.
tion. DR.. Goes conducted some expert.
nents on the theory that yellow fever has
its chief seat in the liver. By taking of
the liver Of deceased yellow fever patient
be cultivated fungus and with it he in.
noculated animals, and produced yellow
fever in every case, and also in monkey