Year: 1866

A very interesting pamphlet from the
pen of DR. ShrimptOn. of Paris, has just


appeared on a subject which has for the


last baf century led to au immense


amount of discussion, namely: Is cholera


a contagious malady or not? DR. Shrimp


ton pr0nOunces, in the most decided


manner, against the theory of contagion,


founding his opinion, first, on his own


experience during the invasion of the


formidable malady in France in 1882, 1919,


1858, 1854, and lately in 1865 and next,


on the facts and observations set forth


in the works of several of his learned


colleagues. who have most frequently had
the opportunity of watching the disease


In India, where its ravages have been so
aWfully depopulating But if the cholera
is contagious, how is 1T produced, and IN


what manner propOgated 2 DR.. Shrimp
ton on those points expressed himself as
follows. Without pretending to give
any absolute decision. for we do not con-
slider ourselves more able than others to
penetrate a mystery which has hitherto
baff1ed all inquiry, we feel justified in say
ing that we attribute the propagation of
cholera to an electric action, which acts
directly, somewhat in the same manner
as lightning, on the nervous system of or
ganic life. We do not require any great
stock of mOdesty to confess that, as to
this electric action, we should not be able
to demonstrate it scientifically; but its
existence nevertheless appears to us GER
tain; IN admitting 1t, we clearly explain
to ourselves the character of cholera, its
progress, even its propagation; In reject
ing 1t, we see only inexplicable enigmas,
which become the more and more obscure
in proportion as they are more deeply
studied. This opinion, moreover, is not
ours alone; many eminent physicians
share 1t with US. We should wish all to
be well convinced that researches must
be made in this direction by those who
desire to arrive at a legitimate conclusion
as TO the mode In which cholera Is propa-
gated. With that view we recommend to
our readers the following observations,
which we have often repeated, and which
they have made or may make as well as
ourselves. The cholera attacks persons
the farthest removed from all contact
with patients, prisoners in their cells, wO-
men confined, and sequestered even from
view, in harems isolated individuals at
sea and IN deserts. No barrier, no quar-
antine, no sanitary Gordon can prevent the
approach of cholera, whatever care may
be taken to keep persons attacked at
distance from the spot where we are
w hen the disease makes its appearance
in a town, either sporadically or alter the
arrival Of an infected person, far from
following a regular course and gradually
advancing in any particular quarter, or
from one quarter to another, as healthy
persons may chance to come in contact
with those having the malady, it strikes,
on the contrary, suddenly and simu1ta-
neOusly, on the most opposite points
does not often make a second victim
where one has already expired, while 1t
will carry off several in a family where
no signs Of the epidemic had appeared,
and that IN quite different quarter, often
the healthiest or one of the healthiest in
the town. Frankly, it seems to us i'm
possible. in presence of facts so positive,
not to attribute the propagation Of chole-
IA to some kind Of electrical action still
unknown, but not the less real, and the
more so that the direction and violence
of the wind exercises no influence on the
extension Of this formidable malady.-
Lastly, we believe that this electrical ac-
ton, to which we assign the origin of the
cholera, Is the result of two forces com
bined, coming at the same time from the
atmosphere and the earth-a fact which
renders the cholera endemieal we are
convinced that the electrical influence af-
fects most seriously those persons whose
nervous system Of organic life is weaken
ed by moral or physical causes, such as
negligence of the ordinary laws for pre-
serving health, sensual indulgence, and,
il u word, all those excuses which Occa-
sion a grave depression Of the vital
forces.