The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-11

'A'o "u1te coTpuScieS TO digest the
microbes. Some light also is thrown
| upon the physiological function of the
white corpuscles.
Here might come in the argument
OF total depravity to maintain that if
the lie OF man is mere succession of
the assaults of microbes, and if living
IN unsanitary conditions gives to his
system the capacity to digest and resist
these his infinitely little enemies,
while life in pure air and clean homes
makes him most susceptible to the
evil assaults-therefore it is better to
live i'll filth than otherwise. But the
evidence is that the microbe is the con-
queror even here that health is put at
so low level by this constant assault
OF disease germs that the victim per-
lshes by a slow degradation of bis physi-
cal condition.
Surgeon Waddell, Of the British army
IN India, recently made some interest
ing experiments upon snakes and their
poisons, which lead up to the theory
that ''snake charmers," so called-who
are not injured by the bite even of the
cobra-owe their immunity to a pre-
vious graduated inoculation with this
theory Of the acquired liberation ofthe
system for even the most yirulent poi
sons.
England is somewhat concerned over
leprosy, even aside from the market
man, who may be called "Eeper Ex-
traordinary to His Royal Highncss the
Prince OF Wales" In fact: having
knocked around the world and annexed
as much of it as he could lay his hands
on, John Bull finds that he hes an
nexed many countries in which leprosy
is at home and has thus brought the
disease to his doors as it were. 1t is
good old fashioned malady, and the
opinion that it cannot flourish out
side of Asia or Africa is erroneous.
Greece had plenty of it once and Aris-
-totle's description of the disease-the
earliest known-waS made from per-
sonal observation. The Persians were
the first to put in force against it the
scheme of rigorous isolation. That was
about 800 3. c. This is probably one
Of the contagious diseases that man did
not get from the lower animals.
It appears to be related in its origin
to the use ofa diet Of putrid fish, and
only the dog of all the domestic ami
mails would share that diet with man.
Some nations are yet fond of putrid
food in the form of cabbage, cheese or
game, and the ancients had a weakness
for offensive fish. They use it still il
the countries where leprosy is endemic.
Having thus produced a bacillus the
bacillus can be passed along even to
nations that abhor fish.
In his paper read before the doctors
at Newport Colonel Waring simplitied
to four points the requirements for
putting towns, villages and houses in
good sanitary condition. He demands
pure water, effective ventilation, the
regular removal of putrescent substance
(garbage) and free water carriage for
house drainage. Against these require
ments our own city is much sinner,
and it would be foolish to anticipate
any immediate reduction in our death
rate. Our water is only fair, and about
one-half the houses in the city poorly
off as to ventilation. AS to garbage, the
houses and the streets are never free
from the odor of it, and our water
carriage system of sewerage is just now
a failure for want of water. All over the
city there is wailing for water. In all
houses where the pressure from the
reservoir is supposed to force the water
to the upper stories the upper stories
are without it-not merely the third
and fourth stories, but the floor that is
one flight Of steps above the street.
Only those houses that have a large
cistern on the roof supplied by steam
or gas pump are safe against the evils
of water closets without water. And
yet and anybody. mention a year in
which We have had more rain than we
have had this year? If with rainy
year the supply is so short, in what
condition should We be with dry |
year? II the present scarcity is not u
necessary consequence Of the inadequa- |
cy of the mains; If, as has been limited,
it is a piece of trickery to force new |
expenditures, it is a dreadful villany.
The Hygienic Congress to be held ut
Paris this summer will be an important |
event. 1t is organized in eight sec
tons. The eight section has the subject
of cremation, and its proceedings will
practically amount to special congress
on that topic. The other sections are
l, hygiene Of infancy; 2, city and coun-
try hygiene;3, bacteriology; I, indust-
rial and professional hygiene; 5, sani-
tary police; 6, adulterations of food;7
vital statistics.i .iThere will be important
discussions on the subject of the reno
val Of garbage and the treatment of
houses, giving the expert
ence on these points ofthe Paris authori-
ties.
Negro Farmers for Mexico
CITY OF MEXICO, June, %, 1SS9.-