Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-07-25
What aeco,nes of the Dead ?

| If we follow the process of decay which
takes place in the grave, it will be found
! that living organisms take part in the
decay of the buried body just as they Dc
when beef or mutton Is consumed by a
man. In absolutely pure air flesh does not
decay, and is. in fact, preserved for an
| indefinite time. But air is very seldom
absolutely pure, for in it are an infinite
number of floating micro-OTganisms. either
as spores or fully developed. On the tops
of mountains these organisms, which are
named bacilli, bacteria or micrococci, are
sparsely found. In the air of the country
they are common, i'll that Of towns they
abound, over sewers or above churChyaTds
| they positively swarm. What are they
Are they plants or animals?
This is a question that science has not
yet decided. Chemists are inclined to con
slider them animals of very low type, be-
cause animals are chiefly engaged in per
forming analytical functions, that is, pull
ing organic matter to pieces, while plants
perform synthetical functions, that is,
building up complex organic matter out of
simple materials, for example, molding
organisms out of carbOnic acid, water and
ammonia. Now, the great function OF
these micro-Organism which play such an
| important part in the economy of the world
is 10 convert potential energy into actual
energy, or. to put it more simply, to con-
vert passive aflinities into active al
tinities IN organized matter there is
for a time the repOSe of the chemical
attractions of those four clements
carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen,
which constitute the great bulk of the
body. The niiCro-0rganisms are engaged
in the resolution of the dead body into
those active forms of chemical energy
carbonic acid. water and ammonia. When
these innumerable little beings have free
play they are the greatest benefactOrs TO the
human race for they are the most powerful
Of all scavengerS, and they purify air, water
and soil SO as to render them fit for the liv-
ing. But if you oppose their free action by
restricting their access by shutting out the
free circulation Of air necessary to their life
functions they become intensely malignant
IA their character the true vampires Of the
dead, for they fly about planting themselves
in the blood of the living and producing
our Well-known epidemic diseases - ~
motto or filth" diseases.
In the fluids of patients suffering from
such diseases these micro organisms swarm.
Mankind has only recently recognized how
much we owe 20 the heterogeneous.
Wine and beer are produced by their
agency; by them vinegar is formed; by
| them we get those vast beds Of saltpetre or
nitre which IS one Of the forms into which
| they convert decaying matter. Our ances-
tiers used TO live with rushes on the floors.
When the rushes became filthy new ones
were put on the top, and frequently &C
cunulated 10 considerable thickness. Then
the dreaded 'petremen' Of the King came
and insisted on digging up the clay floor
which had become saturated with saltpetre
Cd I,t Lt-S mi N fa,
to save the Inhabitants from pestilence pro-
duced by their filthy habits. These little
organisms, whether they may be plants or
animals, are infinite benefactors to the hui
man race or terrible scourges, according as
man is obedient to the wise laws of the
Creator.-[Sir Lyon Playfair, in Good
Words.