The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-08
HOW To KILL CHOLERA GERMS.
Experim ents Made by Chemists and
Their Results.
From the Neto York Times.

an acknowledged expert in Asiatio cholera
cases, wrote letter over the signature Of
'Medicus, which was printed in the Times
OF Aug. %, 1884. Ii republication as
timely contribution being asked for, it is
here with appended In full:
Germs were discovered In the dejecta and
intestiues Of cholera patients as early as
| 1888 by DR.. Bohm, and again by Drs. Brit
| tain, Swayne and Hughes Bennett In lS49
Pouchet, Davine aud Paocinl found them in
| 1854 and 1856, as did Drs. Duudas, Thomp-
son and Hassell. DR.. Hassell gave US our
| first fixed points which were of practical
value ia the treatment of cholera. He
| found the rice water discharges always to
be alkaline and very prone to putrefaction.
aud noticed that the cholera germs throve
best in warm alkaline fluids iu which there
| was organic matter in a state of decomposi-
| ton. Sulphurio acid was then gaining its
/ reputation in the treatment of cholera, and
| it is found that this and some other acids
not only neutralized the alkaline cholera
| discharges, but checked their tendency to
| putrefaction, and so destroyed the coadi-
| tons necessary to the life Of the germs that
| they died
Healthy gastric juice is acid; the base of
Its acidity being muriatio acid, and it was
| found hard to produce cholera in animals
with active digestive apparatus, especially
dogs and pigs. Several times hearty men,
while digestion was going on, swallowed
rice water discharges with impunity, and
one hearty, hoggish German drank beer
glGssful and did not sicken or die.
In 1861 DR.. Mecnamara had an accidental
opportunity to test this matter. Some rice
water discharge was placed In a vessel of
1 drinking water and put in the sun TO watch
the growth Of the germs Nineteen prison
| ers got hold Of the water and drank of it,
| as 1t was neither unpleasant TO the sight,
| taste nor smell. Five of them were attacked
with cholera and died, while the other
| fourteen escaped. The latter were saved
because they had strong digsstions and
plenty Of good acid gastric juice in their
stomachs. At least this seemed the only
way In which the facts could be explained.
/ II large quantity Of contaminated water
| is drank while the stomach is empty, when
1t is always alkaline, fatal results will al
most certainly follow.
In 1871 DR.. Nedwetsky advanced our
knowledge Of cholera germs still further
| He put ten grains Of quinine in two tea
spoonfuls Of rice water discharge, which was
swarming with germs. On the second and
| third days the germs were still alive and
active, and on the afth day new masses and
| colonies Of them had formed. The inference
was that quinipe would not cure cholera,
| but might act as a tonic and keep the
| patient alive longer, and that cholera did
not come from malaria. Thirty grains OF
camphor were then put in two teaspoonfuls
| of rice water discharge. The germs were
not only alive on the second day, but moved
| about actively between the particles Of
oamphor. By the fifth nay new masses and
| colonies OF germs had formed. The infer
ence was that camIhor was good diffusi-
bic stimulant which might revive the
| patient temporarily, but not cure him.
| Then one teaspoonful Of lAudanum, or
| tincture of opium, was put 10 two teaspoon
| fuls Of rice water discharge. The germs
were active and lively on the third day,
and 1t was not until the sixth day that some
of them died. The inference was that opium
might relieve pains and cramps and check
the exhaustive discharges, but would not
| cure cholera. Then one tesspoonful of
| tncture of nux vomica was put in two lea
spoonfuls of rice water discharge. 1t was
| not more poisonous 10 the germs than
| opium, aud on the tenth day many germs
were living and only portion of them had
died.
TRen five drops OF strong so-called car-
bolic acid, which is not an acid, was put In
two teaspoontuls of rice water discharge.
On the second and fifth days the germs were
found alive and active, and five drops more
of carbolic acid was added, with the same
lack OF results. The germs did not even
alter in appearance and activity. Then one
and two teaspoonfuls of tar were put in two
| teaspoonfuls Of rice water discha &c, but
| the germs lived. Then ten grains of Gallo
mel were put in two teaspoonfuls Of rice
water discharge. The germs continued to
live and move about between particles of
calomel, and on the fifth and sixth days
new masses or colonies Of them had formed.
Small doses of calomel (one-half grain every
half or one hour had been enthusiastically
| recommended for the cure of cholera. but
| we need say no more about them. They
keep people busy; something seems being
done, aud the patients recover or die in
| about the usual proportion, say so per ceat.
Then one teaspoontul of choral was put Ia
two teaspoonfuls of rice water discharge,
but did not trouble the germs much.
One would suppose that Nedwetsky would
have been discouraged. Not bit of it, His
experience with cholera in Russia had been
very large and be had other resources. He
| next tried quite dilute mineral acids-nitric.
muriatic and snlphuric-made with twenty
drops Of the strong acids in one ounce Of
| water Of which he put two teaspoonfuls in
two teaspoonfuls Of rice water discharge.
The germs died at once. The ordinary
strength of dilute mineral acids is quite
double that above employed, and Ned
| wetsky, to test how weak preparation
would suffice. put only three drops Of mu-
ratio acid in six ounces, or 1850 drops OF
water, and two teaspoonfuls of this added
to two teaspoonfuls of rice water discharge
quickly killed the majority Of the germs,
| while only few remained alive In greatly
| altered and enfeebled condition.
The inference was that teaspoonful for
teaspoonful or ounce for ounce or pint for
pint Ut these dilute acids. or little stronger
ones, must be given to neutralize or acdify
the estimated quantity Of rice water fluid
contained in the stomach aud bowels Of the
cholera patients. These dilute acids are
very pleasant and grateful drinks to the
cholera patients; they are very thirsty and
have only too often been denied all drinks
for fear of increasing the copious watery
discharges. Now, il opium is necessary for
the relief of pain, fright, cramps or other
distress il may be given with advantage,
especially 10 the shape of the sulphate or
muriate of morphia. 1t will act. which it
cannot do when the contents OF the stomach
and bowels are alkaline. Acetic acid,
which is the basis OF vinegar, has been found
useful In cholera, and lemon juice is not to
be despised.
Nedwetsky found that tannin or tanuic
acid, ten grains TO two teaspoonfuls OF rice
water discharge, killed the germs so effecku-
ally that they could not be brought to life
| again when put In pure water. Gallo acid
| ia equally useful, and SO is alum, which Is
com bination of sulphuric acid with alu-
minia. Alum is largely used TO purify con-
samtnated water. Sulphate of iron had to
ha mad IN concentrated aoIukion To kill