Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-05-30
MIOROBIC INOCULATION.
From the n. Y. World

FROM the n. l. w Orlu.l
The experiments now being made by
DR.. Ferran, the young Catalan physi-
clan, in microbic incubation rs pre-
ventive against cholera are deserved
ly attracting serious attention. Yes
terday our correspondent in Madrid in
forms US, quoting from Spanish papers,
that of five thousand cases subjected to
microbic incubation, not single |
death has occurred, while the cases OF
two unfortunate hospital patients
"who refused to be inOculated and who
were the only persons who were after
ward attacked by the cholera and
died." had greatly increased confidence
in DR.. Ferran's work.
OF course, it would be of the great
est importance to know if DR.. Ferran
has the true Asiatic cholera to deal
with. On this point there have been
conflicting accounts. Minister Foster,
who has Just visited Valencia, reports
only cases of mild choleraic form.
Other authorities, on the other hand,
have reported the epidemic as being OF
the true oriental type. In any case,
however, Dr.. Ferran's discovery may
prove of great value to the world,
Judging from analogous cases in exis-
tence. We need scarcely refer to Jen-
ner's great discovery, Much more re-
Gently the famous French savant DR..
Pasteur startled the world by his dis
covery that charaon, or carbuncle, a
malignant disease which prevails
among sheep, "could be warded off by
the incubation of the animal with a
poison germ artificially cultivated
down to degree of practicable mild
| ness" and, as a London scientific
writer remarks, "there is nothing i'll
credible that similar result may fol-
low from the administration of the
cholera bacillus, supposing always that
DR.. Ferran has got hold OF the genuine
article"
| At present our absolute ignorance of
the exact nature of the epidemic that
now prevails in Spain prevents us from
expressing a positive opinion on DR..
Ferran's IabOrs. '.The real test will
be-" as an English authority says,
"when an epidemic of true Asiatic
cholera breaks out. If then it is found
that inOculated persons either escape
altogether or have the disease very
mildly, DIR. Ferran will merit the rep
utation which Jenner obtained in the
last century," In view of the present
unsatisfactory reports so far received
from Valencia, it is therefore with
pleasure that we learn of the intention
both of the English and Spanish gov
ernments to send medical commissions
''to investigate the condition of the
epidemic and to report on DR.. Ferran'-
discoveries and the chances of prevent
ing cholera epidemics in future by a
general use of his system of inocula-
tion,"
The subject of microbic incubation
is one that deserves the earnest atten
ton of our own medical scientists
We are not free from the fear that the
dreaded Asiatic visitor may sooner ol
later reach our shores, and if it comes
we ought TO be prepared to meet and
combat its ravages. Not to take every
means of learning the efficacy of DR.
Ferran's system of incubation would
indeed, be almost criminal negligence
Oh our part. Would it not be wls(
thing. therefore, under the circnm
stances, for the government to take
this subject into special consideration
and to send out at once capable medi-
cal experts to Valencia to examine tn,
epidemic prevailing there and to in
quire into the success of DR.. Ferran'E
discovery?