St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-11-22
Pneumonia In Dwelling Houses.

Whatever we may think of the prob
able connection between animalcule
and infectious diseases. nobody can
deny the fact that certain special va
rieties of microzymes have been discov-
cred i'm certain special zymotic maladics.
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
Regensburg. since 1857. a great many
cases of acute pneumonia have taken
place, and it seemed rs if the disease ut
times assumed an epidemic character
in that institution, while it continually
was present as an endemic disorder.
The last epidemic, happening from Jan
uarv to June, 1880, and during which
forty-six of l6l prisoners succumbed to
the disease, induced the Government to
causes producing the malady. DIR.
Emmerich received this commission.
Careful researches soon enabled him to
exclude occupation, diet. water, priv
les, and atmosphere as Geological ele-
ments. 1t is well known that between
the outer brick wall and the inner p!as-
ter covering of walls of rooms there is
a so-called filling a space usually
filled out with laths and mortar. AS
nothing else seemed to open an
explanation for the endemic and
frequently epidemic presence of pnen-
monia in the prison, the doctor re-
solved to examine carefully into
the condition of this filling. Small par
ticles taken from the layer below the
board floor, were powdered and spread
over sterilized gelatine, prepared from
meatwaterpepton (boullion). Within q
very few DAYS many and various kinds
of Observation-Disclosures commenced to
develop themselves, and amongst them.
those formed like the head of nail,
and of a milk-glass color, were pre-
dominant.
These cocci and dipiococci were theL
separated from the others. and cultured
by koch's pure-culture process. The
macro>copical, as well as the micro
scopical appearance of these culture
exactly resembled the description given
BY Friedlander and Frobenius of the
micrococci which these Investigators
had invariably found in the lungs of in
divi,luals having died with pneumonia.
Blood serum and potato cultures gave
the same result. 1t may also be inter-
esting to state that besides these pncu-
monte micrococci, DIR. Emmerich also
discovered numerous bacilli of malig-
nant Gdema.
He inoculatcd mice and guinea-pigs
with the micrococci obtained by his
pure-cultures 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 oil
eight mice which had inhaled the mi
crococci, five succumbed to pneumonia.
The great Importance of these re
searches will become apparent if we
remember that seven per cent. of al
deaths are caused by acute pneumonia,
and that tubercular phthisis is the only
disease with a still greater mortality
By the introduction of suitable materia
for the filling of ;hGse ''wall-and-foo
interspaccs,n such y house-epidemit
may in future be perhaps totally
avoided. The material should be q,
little porus as possible. and be soaked
in an aseptic solution. -HcatM ant
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