Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-03-17
CHOLERA PROPAGATION.

With the probability that cholera will
come u Us in this year, the subject of its
resistance takes on new interest and IS be-
ing widely discussed. We may hope for
the best. and that the pest will not reach
us, but We should prepare for the worst,
and avail ourselves of every possible item
Of knowledge material to . contest with
the disease. One thing is accepted as
established beyond question, that the
Koch theory has lost credit, and amounts
to very iit,le in aiding scientific resistance.
That the germ theory rests upon 4 basis of
truth there is no doubt; but that Koch
has discovered the real cholera germ or
cause Of disease, is not uow believed by the
best medical scientists All we know,
therefore, regarding the propagation of
cholera, j, that it is due to a great number
Of causes, Dr. Non Pcttenkofer declares
that the places which enjoy immunity from
cholera are more numerou, than is gener-
ally supp -ed lie IS the latest authority
and among the best ON hcsubiect OF modes
OF propagation. and his statements should
commend respect, since .hc opportunities
he embraced to study cholera were
specially good and numerous,
and have extended over many
years. lie cites many curious cases of i'm
munitv. Lyons was hesieged and con-
qucrel ty soldiery afflicted with cholera,
yet escaped it in 1919 As the result Of
natural conditions, though the place was
badly drained and filthy. Probably the
.,urr.n; gi air following two great river
courses protected the l.yoncse, Even
when cholera appeared in Marseilles and
Paria, and Lyons was in close communica-
ton With them, She was not assaiIed by the
pest Ne, in 1854 the disease appeared in
the town, killing 500 persons ont Of l00,-
Ooo But the deaths were Chiefly in the
low-lying districts. The authorities agree
that too much and too little water in the
soil ar alike favorable TO the propagation
of cholera. Tn, doctor found strange rs
ii may seem, thar in 1874, in the great
Donau hog in Bavaria, the people were
free frola the cholera, though the hog WAS
surrounded BY it, The region of Saxony
in the north, upon the Spree, IS noted Us a
malaricus district, yet cholera has ever
stunned il, lie concludes that il Is highly
Important to know what relation exists
between moisture in the soil and epidemic
cholera Cholera is infreguent in noun
tains and. when found there, dininisae.
as the rainfall increases. TIE weather and
cholera, he remarks, arc equally capri
cious The doctor cites 50 many instances
to prove that what is n one time favorable
to exemption is at another unfavcrable,
that he leaves the reader, probably with
purpose, IN doubt lie opposes the theory
OF TIE couiagionists, that the cholera OK
pends itself because the population he
conc; Saturated" and each in
dividuql thus acquire, pro-
tectiye influence againsi ii, similar
to vaccination, for it docs not explain why
the endemic is sometimes rapid and some
fines slow, sometimes vast and sometimes
sliaht in It's ravages. A large number OF
instances are cited to show that the cholera
is the NEST eccentric of diseases, appearing
where there is least reason 10 expect il,
and avoiding apparent invitation, and