Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-04
SOME MEDICAL REVELATIONS.

Dr. Wol1, OF Parls, has Just completed
for the Partisan faculty new and inter-
esting series of experiments upon the be-
havior of the gastric juice secreted by the
stomach, under the application of cognac.
His experiments were not at all senti-
mental, nor in any way intended to relate
to the temperance question. He found
that dose of twenty cubic centimeters of
cognae increases the acidity of the gastric
juice, and especially the secretion of that
useful acid OF the juice, hydrochloric acid
But when the dose is increased, however
little, precisely the opposite results. Thus
thirty cubic centimeters diminishes the
acidity, while habitual use of the bever-
age, even in small doses, lessons the sensi-
tiveness OF the mucous membrane of the
stomach, so that it no longer SO satisfac-
torily reacts upon the food introduced.
The conclusion reached is logical, irresist-
ible, that the habit of drinking cognac is
bad one. Ii, however, dyspepsia has been
brought on by absence or insufficiency of
the acidity of the gastric juice, cognac in
small doses before or after meals will ex-
cite the sluggish secretions. But even
then, says the scientist, the administration
must not continue long, nor consecutively
for any great length Of time be used for
the purpose indicated. since if there are
not long pauses in such administration the
desired effect cannot be produced.
The generally accepted doctrine is that
through the means of drinking-water ty-
phoid fever is mostly generated, though
its contagious character is also admitted.
The medical world is constantly making
useful discoveries, however, concerning
the origination and transmission of fevers.
The most recent which proves that con-
taminated water is not the only interme-
diary, is that made by Frederic Bordas, of
Paris, distinguished bacteriologist, who
has demonstrated the presence of the bacil-
lus Of typhoid in the atmosphere. and that
forms of typhoid infection are often local
lied exclusively in the lungs. M. Bordas
now shows how this mode of contagion is
effected. He has accomplished this by an
exceedingly long line of difficult expert
ments, too intricate Of course to be de-
scribed IN general article. 1t must
suffice TO say that he has discovered that
in an atmosphere so dry as to be COM
pletely devoid of aqueous vapor, the bacil-
lus is destroyed. But he finds that it lives
on and develops in an atmosphere more or
less charged with moisture, and to this
fact he attributes many peculiarities
that have not before been explained salts
factorily-as, for instance, the fact that
typhoid fever is more developed and fire.
quent in the damp seasons, and that the
greater outbreaks of the disease then oc-
cur. He claims also to have discovered
that the microbe of typhoid fever has a
certain power Of resistance TO external in
fiuenees, and that for a long time il re-
tains disease generative power, and this
claim corresponds with the accepted doc
trine of the vital resistance of germs. 1t
follows that under Bordas' discoveries it
is reasonable to believe that the bacillus
NAV penetrate the tissue of the lungs by
means of the respiratory tract, for the bac-
teriologist proves that the bacillus is
found in the dust Of the fever wards Of
hospitals. He further concludes that il
the pulmonary passage has been assailed
by previous disease and weakened by it,
or, rather preached by it, the absorption Of
the bacillus is more liable.