The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-10-18
Pneumonia in Dwelling Houses.

Whatever we may think of the prob
able connection between animalcul9
and infectious diseases, nobody can
deny the fact that certain special va
rieties of microzymes have been discov-
cred in certain special zymotic maladies.
Acute croupous lobar-pneumonia is one.
of these diseases, and a peculiar kind of
micrococci has been demonstrated to be
invariably present in this infectious
complaint
In the penitentiary at Amberg, near
IRegensburg, since 1857, great many
cases of acute pneumonia have taken
place, and it seemed as if the disease at
times assumed an epidemic character
IN that institution, while it continually
Twas present as an endemic disorder.
The last epidemic, happening from Jan
lnary to June, 1880, and during which
fortysix of 161 prisoners succumbed to
the disease, induced the Government to
Iprder a careful investigation of the
IGauses producing the malady. DR..
Emmerich received this commission.
Careful researches soon enabled him to
exclude occupation, diet, water, priv
les, and atmosphere as Geological ele-
nents. 1t is well known that between
Bhe outer brick wall and the inner plas-
ier covering OF walls of rooms there is
II so-called ''tilling," space usually
lFilled out with laths and mortar. AS
Iaothing else seemed to open an
Explanation for a, the endemic and
Areauently epidemic presence OF pneu-
nonia In the prison, the doctor re-
solved to examine carefully into
the condition of this filing. Small par
ticIes taken from the layer below the
BOARD flor, were powdered and spread
pver stel1ized gelatine, prepared from
meatwatqpepton (boullion). Within a
very few lays many and various kinds
Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. commenced TO
| develop themselves, and amongst them,
those formd like the head of a nail,
and Of q nilk-glass color, were pre-
| dominant.
These coed and diplococci were then
separated from the others, and cultured
by Koch's pre-culture process. The
macroscopical as well as the micro
scopical appearance of these culture
exactly resembhd the description given
by Friedlander and Frobenius of the
micrococci which these investigators
had invariably fond in the lungs of in
diViduals having Died with pneumonia.
Blood serum and potato cultures gave
the same result. 1t may also be inter
estiug to state that besides these pneu-
monte micrococc, Dr.. Emmerich also
discovered numerous bacilli of malig-
nant Gdema.
He inoculated mice and guinea-pigs
with the micrococci obtained by his
procedures from the cocci originally
taken from the filling. He also caused
other animals to inhale the micrococci.
The blood, lungs and pleural eXuda-
ton Of the inoculated animals were
filled with the microzymes, and of
eight mice which had inhaled the mi
crococci, five succumbed to pneumonia.
The great Importance of these re-
searches will become apparent if we
remGmber that seven per cent. of all
deaths are caused by acute pneumonia,
and that tubercular phthisis is the only
disease with still greater mortality.
BY the introduction of suitable material
for she filling of these 'wall-and-hoor
,-:nterspaccs," such house-epidenaic
may in future be perhaps totally
avoided The material should be as
little porus as possible, and be soaked
in an aseptic solution. HealM and
HO9lle