The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-17

..r,od OF delirium and in full con-
,.Irsnce. and some sudden and unex-
.sssS termination OF the morbid process
a. the most part due not to the ac-
~ yellow fever poison. but to uremic
.sThs symptom called black vomit is
...ssd by the action OF gastric acldity on
Hood. which escapes into the stomach
srough the LESSONS In the mucous mem
us The act of vomiting Is caused by
icteroid bacillus circulating In the
hood.
me disease is due primarily to the hem
-haric property which the icteroid bacil-
!. nossesses and In common with other
scrobes. and in the second place to the
Isctound rapid alterations and degenera.
,cna which It produces in the walls Of the
ood vessels.
nNo literature exists In yellow fever
ountries sufficiently demonstrative I'M
hsracter to prove transmission by water.
mere is, however. an inexhaustibe sup
M 81 facts demonstrating its atmospheric
ransmisson.
,The one example cited relative to the
screase OF yellow fever in Vera Cruz
fter the installation OF good water sup.
M system had only relative value. The
sndency is to attribute improvement in
Iublic health to one hygenic measure when
should rather be ascribed to conjunc-
ian OF sanitary improvements. The re-
rarkable resistance Of the icteroid bacil-
ms 10 desiccation and water authorizes
he admission of the diffusion of the yell
ow fever virus by air and water
"Contagion by the respiratory system
has been proved by animal experiment
gIth regard to the mechanism of conta-
don by water, 1t is an indubitable fact
hat the eptholimia OF the digestive sys-
en-, when intact, does not in general per-
mit the passage OF any species of patho-
Ieuic germ. But 1t must be remembered
hat in our yellow fever countries the
highest disturbance OF the digestive
unctlons. such as the abuse OF alcoholic
thinks. ices, fruits, etc, especially on the
BART of recent arrivals, depress the sys-
EN- and prepare for the entrance upon
he scene Of yellow fever. 1t can not be
henied that persons recently arrived in
Fellow fever countries are subject to ca
arrh of the hillary system, which. united
With the overexertion Of the liver, which
accompanies it. may facilitate tho en-
rance of the bacillus into the intestiues,
IN entrance of the bacillus at the season
when 1t forms part of the flora OF the
ellow fever locality.
1.-THE icteroid bacillus, whether through
Effect of its specific virus or through the
grave hepatic LESSONS which are its most
Immediate consequence, favors at a given
moment the entrance into the organism
M septic microbes. which not only term
mate the disease much sooner than the
specific microbe would do but attack the
specific agent invading its domain. sup
pressing vegetative faculty and even at
fecting its vitality. Consequently this
hicrobe antagonism between the yellow
fever bacillus and septic infection, in
stead of being useful TO the patient, who
represents the theater of action, hastens
bis end.
"The maritime propagation of yellow
fever Is not a f.ct so firmly established
that we should direct our attention to dis
covering its cause. baslng our researches
cn our knowledge Of the specific mi
crobe."
The behavior of the yellow fever mi
crobe on board vessels differs greatly
from that of the cholera vibrio under the
same circumstances. When cholera is in
troduced on board vessel ii breaks out
with violence varying with the quantity
and energy of the choleraic vibrio and
with individual predispositon; after the
outbreak the cholera vibrio does not seem
to find in the ordinary conditions OF mari
time transportation a medium favorable to
Its existence 1t rapidly yields to meas
Yellow fever, ON the contrary, once in
stilled on board vessel, maintains Itself
long and tenaciously, especially in sum-
mer. and is transferred TO warehouses and
stores. Old and much used vessels are
extremely unfit TO be used in countries
when yellow fever Is endemic.
Those who are especially concerned
with naval hygiene consider close, un-
ventllatedships, in which the air is vitiated
h, tn ho hA1 fattI 10 n
veritable yellow fever factors.
Humidity, heat and want of light APP
pear, therefore, to be the agents best
adapted to the preservation Of the ctcroid
bacillus. But in the present state OF our
knowledge it is not possible to attribute
TO these agents alone specific value when
other conditions exist which initiate in
Its favor. We must therefore, look for
some other cause favoring in some way
the nautical habit of the icteroid bacillus.
A singular phenomenon which frequently
attracted my attention during these stu
dies suggested to me that the probable
cause of this mysterious resistance of the
lcteroid bacillus is that the fungus OF
common mold In the atmosphere protects
the bacillus.
1T Is to deficient ventilation and hish
hygrometric conditions OF the atmosphere
that the unhealthness Of Rio de Janeiro
Is attributed.
During the great epidemic of yellow
fever in 1872 at Montevldeo the disease
showed an inexplicable prediction for
suacking houses fronting to the north
NOW the houses on the north side Of
streets in Montevideo are conspicuous fol
.nelr dampness. 1t is. therefore, probable
,nat the factor of humidity, whether OF
poard ships along the coast or in tbs
Interior, Is the principal confident In this
poiogic phenomenon and not some com
monplace meteorological influence. On tht
o'her hand, the natural resistance OF thu
ieteroid bacillus to desiccation natures
method of disinfection and its lorgevit!
~ sea water are sufficient to explain thu
standardization OF icteroid typhus on ship
snd In maritime localities"