Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-08-07
DIR. KOCH ON CHOLERA.
The Eminent German Authority
Makes Some Suggestions.
Results of His Post. Mortcm Exa1nl.
natioms-StrIct Rules Concern.
ing Food and Drink-Dan.
ger in DalMpness.
TChicago Tribune Gable Dispatch ]

interview had with Dr. Koch and his assist
ant, Dr. Lbertz, of Frankfort:
"Are you off to Marseilles doctor!
dyes; no more for me to do here. have
quite made up my mind. All tho post
nlortems have made confirm the results OF
my first investigation, which put tho Asiatic
character of the scourge beyond question. l
have found some phenomena, as III the cases
which investigated in India"
"Werc the microbes identicall"
"Prccisey found numbers in the body
of that soldier, Bernard, whose post-mortem
made Sunday evening. Indeed, found
more than saw in Egypt. Messrs Strauss
and Roux, who were standing by, also recog-
nized the presence of Indian microbes i'll
Egypt, but had always seen it mixed with
others, whereas in post-mortems that l have
made here the Indian microbes outnumbercd
the Others immensely"
where do you find the microbes in time OF
e:idemics i"
"Ihc microbe is rarely met with in tho
stomach. The disorders of the digestive or
gans and the gastric disorders are not favor
able to it, so it takes refugc in the small M
tcstines, whcrc it can easily multiply"
"What misc hief does the micro"c do in the
intcstines.' the doctor was asked
First, its presence causes diarrh~a and
vomiting, leading to thiclening and chilling
Of the blood; thcn it secrctcS an intoxicating
poison, which causes the dry, instantaneous
cholera in the original cholcra-foudroyan
sac--that is cholera without diarrhoa."
with such plccisc information as this, doc
tor, surely one should soon be able to destroy
the mirrohe"
mo douht, but have nothing to do with
lat tha,s mr.
bv my observations and suggestions have
already told you contamination is not caused
by air, but by absorption of microbes, infect
Ing food especially water and solid food di-
troduccd into the digestive tubes
Il presume that explains why you
advised tho members of the sani-
tary committee to shut mp the wells and coun-
sci the people to drink boiled water, OF water
from non.,ntectcd places, OF light mineral
waters"
ayes 1t also explains the necessity of tax
ing o,lv wcl-cookca food, peeled fruits, vege-
tables, and preserves Remember, microbes
die if exposed to high and especially lon dry
tcmperature.'
"Wnl you kindly explain your theory to
ennll. me to repeat it,
with pleasure hold that microbes are
tranemssLlc only by excrcmcnts Or objects
sciled by excrcmcnts. Consequently the hISt
prcraution to take is to subject the linen OF
cholera naticnts to heat hot air, and phcnic
acid more or less concentrated. Microbes
can not live in concentrated solutions OF
,hcnir acid or in dry atmosphere. Re-
mem, er, they develop and multiply IA tho
damp. VUry have been found IL ponds III
cholera countries
.,Woull a great storm of wind, the nti>trnl,
for instance, destroy microbes i'll apartments
! linen, ctc."
Yes. certainly; no soilcl object is the least
dangerous once it is dry, for the mlcr"bc has
| become puwcrlcss to reproduce Itself; lEdeed,
! it is dead
some moro qucstion," said the correspond
ont 1T is this: Did the theory of tho de-
stlvlctiun of the mcrobe by aryneSS lead to
advise the closing up and drying of contaml-
mated apartments"
ayes. aud to pronounce the diSn1octlnS OF
! luggage; letters, and travellers lncilcrtual l
cauuut undcl stand how any faith was ever
| put III it.
"lIow about watering the streets and the
| boulevarCs"
sThe practice is dangerous 1t favors the
conditions for the reproduction and propaga'
tun of microbes.
Then it would be preferable to leave the
streets dry and dusty!'
"Ccrtainly."
"what is your opinion regarding the origin
of the present epidemic"
81 think may say that considering the
precautions taken by the naval authorities,
cholera was imported on some merchant ship,
probably English. They do not sciuple on
English vessels to hide deaths which occur on
voyages. or to lulsity logs"
"Ot course" said |, "you disapprove OF
crowds altOgcthcr:'
IAN public fctcs and fairs, and consequent
" tac fctc of July II should have been Tor
uldcn.'
The Gaulols correspondent says:
Several French doctors to whom talked
| of the above conversation. made the lollp"
inr remarks: 'yhe inoculalion or various
animals with Asatic microbes dill not give
them cholera: hence, some doctors d"uh'
whether Dr. kochs mirco0es ato the reh
cause Of cholera. If inuculatcd animals lei
| i'll it Wold he easy to discover the means "'
killing cholera and the lnicroh", like otAer III
Sccts; tuprWuInlS, iOr instance