The Washington herald., 1911-09-03
SIX INVASIONS OF ASIATIC CHOLERA
HAVEOVERSPREAD WEST SINCE 1917

from Russia. The epidemic did not
spread by contact, or by the pollution
of the city itself; It became serious
only when the infected discharges OF
the sick were carried by a roundabout
route to the source Of the city's drink
ing water.
Personally, If the word may be so
applied, the cholera bacillus is a very
interesting vegetable tadpole, capable
of rapid and energetic movement
which may indicate that it IS orig
inally a water form which has become
adapted to growth in the human body.
Different strains of the organism vary
greatly in form. Some are comma
shaped, with a strongly curved tail, or
flagellum; others are nearly straight;
some are spiral and others are not.
1t is an interesting fact that there
are many other vibrio bacilli which
do not cause cholera, but which are
in many cases indistinguishable from
the cholera bacillus by their appear
ance under the microscope. or by their
manner of growth on culture media.
The cholera vibrio has to be Identified
by test, but this Is so certain and deli
cate that II furnishes a perfectly re-
liable means of diagnosis.
Cholera, the disease, throws curious
ism of some OF the body processes and
conditions. The disease Is contracted
only by the swallowing of the cholera
yibrio. Once swallowed. the bacill
pass through the stomach, seldom
damaging that organ, and begin IN the
intestines the rapid multiplication
which produces the disease. By the
toxins they contain they bring aoont
a severe intoxication-poisonin
the body, Inflammation, and more or
less destruction of the lining mem
branes OF the intestines.
The body is rapidly and ruthlessly
drained Of fits huid matters. The eyes
sink in, the flesh seems to waste
rapidly, the circulation becomes al
most NIL. and the body heat rapidly
falls below normal Something like
miracle is wrought when a patient In
this state OF collapse Is dosed with a
liter or so of salt solution injected
directly into the veins. 1T seems like
resurrection. The body heat returns
the pulse becomes perceptible, then
full and strong"
shows Vital Processes.
This gives US striking evidence Of
the dependence of the bodynpon its
water The body heat is maintained
by the oxidation, or burning. OF the
waste maLleFS OF cNCAg NcAA IA 80 N~-sh
hut this oxidation cannot be main
tanned unless there is ample blood
stream TO absorb oxygen in the lungs
and distribute it all over the body.
vitality, the power Of resistance, falls.
therefore. by the clogging and poison
ing Of the body with the products OF
its own living processes. Again, the
shrinking of the blood stream lessons
greatly the elimination of waste mat
ters by the kidneys and the skin, and
by this failure, as well as by the low
cred efficiency of oxidation. the body
deals ineffectively with the poisons OF
the cholera vibrios. In the light OF
these conditions the cholera mortality
Of SO TO 55 per cent seems altogether
reasonable. So far. recovery has to
be hoped for mainly from the natural
resisting powers OF the body, and by
replacing. the drain Of liquid Anti
septics have proved valueless. A serum
treatment has been devised. but II has
not yet reached the point Of being =
cure.