Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-19


people seems desirable at the present time but cs-
pecially because this disease illustrates particu-
larry well certain principles concerning the COM
mon modes Ofinfection. and practical measures OF
prevention can be much more intelligently and
! generally carried out with knowledge Of these
principles. As has already been intimated
measures which are useful in preventing the
| invasion and propagation Of cholera are also
| applicable to several other diseases, particu-
larry typhoid fever.
There have been and still are conflicting
views 40 to some points in the causation of
cholera. 1 shall endeavor to present views
which seem to me correct and which believe
| to have the greatest weight of authority and
/ to be most widely accepted by competent in
vestigators. As to many points there is sub
stantial unanimity Of opinion. Asiatic cholera
is one Of the infectious diseases. BY an infec-
tious disease is meant one which is produced
BY specific micro-organism in the body.
Most Of tire disease-producing micro-organ-
lsms with which we are acquainted are bacteria
But there are infectious diseases-for example,
malaria and a form Of dysentery-whlch are
caused by Heterogeneous which are not bac-
terra.
WORD ABOUT BACTERIA.
Permit me at this point to digress for a mo-
ment to say q word in behalf of the much
abused bacteria. There is so rarely occasion
in popular articles and addresses to say any
thing about bacteria except as causes of
dreadful disease that these microscopic forms
OF life are regarded with no other feelings
than those of hostility and dread Now, as a
matter OF fact there are many more harmless
and useful and friendly species of bacteria
than there are poisonous ones These simplest
forms of vegetable life play a stupendous part
in the economy of life. All life would cease
upon this globe were it not for the agency of
bacteria in breaking up highly organized sub
stances and preparing food for the higher
plants. AS agents of fermentation they and
allied organisms are the servants of man, but
sometimes his MASTER Many kinds of bacteria
are messmates within our bodies. where there liz
reason to believe that some serve useful pur-
pose. We take in with our drink, food and air
millions OF bacteria and they do no harm. 1t
is about as reasonable to entertain hostility
against all bacteria because some are poisonous
as it would be to cherish the same feeling
against the higher members of the vegetable
kingdom because some of those are poisonous.
THE CHOLERA BACILLUS.
The species of bacterium which is now
known to be specific cause of Asiatic cholera is
usually called the comma bacillus of Koch. from
its shape and the name ofits discoverer It does
not seem to me either necessary or desirable on
this occasion to give detailed description of
the characters of this orgf nism, although these
have been most carefully studied There are.
however. certain properties of this germ which
bear SO directly upon the understanding of the
mOue OF spread OF cnOlcra that IL seems proper
to refer to some of them here.
One of the most important of these proper
ties is that the cholera germ is killed by COM
plete drying. From this property we have
right to conclude that cholera Is not conveyed
by the air. that we cannot contract this disease
under any ordinary circumstances by taking
the germs in with the air which we breathe.
Bacteria float in the air with particles OF dust
only when they have been completely deRic-
Gated Currents Of air are incapable OF lifting
bacteria from moist surfaces, hence there can
be conveyed by the atmosphere only those in
fictitious diseases whose germs withstand the
process of drying. The inference that the
germs OF cholera cannot be disseminated
! through the atmosphere is supported by the
observations OF the mode of distribution of the
disease and is manifes.ly matter OF great i'm
portance as regards the care and prevention of
cases of cholera. The cholera patient is not n
source of danger to those in proximity in the
same way that a smallpox or scarlet fever pa
tent Is. Neither the patient nor the discharge
infects the surrounding air. The inhumanity
with which those seized by cholera are some
times treated By the public is based upon
groUndless ideas as to the real sources Of
danger.
MUST BE SWALLOWED.
The cholera germs must be taken in by the
mouth and swallowed to produce the disease in
human beings. In other words. the principal
sources of infection are the drinks and food.
Sometimes the hands or other objects contami-
mated with cholera bacilli are brought into con.
tact with the mouth. But even if the cholera
bacilh In this way gains entrance to the stom-
ach there are many chances that they will not
produce the disease. They are easily weakened
or killed by acids and the normal acidity of the
juices OF the stomach is obstacle to their
passage in living and viruleut condition into
the intestines, which is the only part of tine body
where they can multiply and flourish.
r.
healthy stomach in cholera time and
the danger OF indiscretion of diet or other
ways which impairs functions of this organ.
We can understand from this why during many
epidemics of cholera there is often q marked
increase in the number of cases a day or two
after the carousing of holiday a continent
tai Sunday. We know that large number of
human beings do not contract cholera even
when exposed to Its causes. 1t is plain that
there are other things to consider in the caus-
alton of cholera besides the bacilli, and one of
these is the susceptibility of tho individual
Among our preventative measures. therefore.
should be included such az tend to produce and
preserve individual unsusceptibility to the dis
ease.
DIR. WEIGH proceeding said that the fact that
the cholera bacillus are found only in the dis
charges indicate that measures must be taken
to destroy the bacilli in these discharges or, in
other words, complete disnfection must be Sc
cured. If such disinfection of the discharges
would be made complete it would be possible
to check the disease at the beginning, but the
fact that many mild cases occur which some
times are scarcely recognized as cholera, makes
1t almost impossible 10 secure a complete disin-
lection. One of the best disnfec tants is the
milk Of lime or quick lime dissolved in water
Under any sort of decent conditions of living
cholera is not considered contagious disease
in the same sense that smallpox il. Nevertheless
in crowded tenement houses the disease spreads
rapidly, as if by contact. While the disease is
not generally contracted directly from the
person, yet human intercourse was required to
spread it, and from any given case of cholera
1t could be traced through a complete chain of
human beings back TO Bengal. the home OF
cholera. DR.. WEIGH. speaking of the infection
of a locality, said it depended in the first place
upon the entrance OF the cholera bacilli into
the soil. Of the media for spreading the dis
case the most important unquestionably was
the drinking water. There is nothing better
established in the etiology of cholera than that
epidemic can be produced by the drinking
water. Hamburg will, he asserted become
known as classical instance of drinking
water epidemcs. He spoke OF one street that
passed. between Hamburg and Altoona
In Altoona filtered water was used In
Hamburg the water of the Elbe is drunk
On the Hamburg side not house escaped the
cholera. On tho Altoona side not a case &C.
CURED. The so-called explosive outbreaks Of