Year: 1879




SCIENCE AND COMMON SENSE.


Mrs. Ingraw, Of Nashville, a lady
ofhigh scientific culture, who is recog-
nized by the most eminent scientists
of this country, has been advocating
for some years a theory that all cpl
demic diseases come from a germ,
which can be destroyed by a heavy
shock, say by the explosion of gun
powder or electrical discharges, either
natural or artificial. The idea seems
to be original and to have been fully
elaborated only by her, although some
Others in this country and ia Europe
have recently come forward to avail
themselves of her studious researches.
She has made numerous experiments
in small way which prove conclu-
sively that flies, mosquitoes, ETC., can
be killed in a room by slight con-
cussiOn of this kind, and that other
insects can be destroyed in the open
air The lack of means and opportu-
nifty has only prevented her from at
tempting experiments on a grand
scale, as she has perfect con-
fdence in the theories advanced
and so ably elucidated before the
American Science Association at a
recent annual meeting. held at Nash
vile, and also in various papers.
When the yellow fever was prevailing
here last fall she wrote repeatedly to
the mayor urging him to make the
experiment of firing cannon, which
was once attempted under similar cir
cumstances at New Orleans, but not
carried out. The mayor agreed to try
it, but before the order was carried
into effect, he and others were taken
down with the prevalent disease and
it fell through. But whatever efficacy
there may be in artificial conclusions,
we know that in natures great labora-
tory there are hidden the agents which
restore the equilibrium of the air and
make possible the continuance of ami
NAL and vegetable life. At times these
seem almost exhausted in the air, and
the result is drought, famine and
pestilence. But nature supplies
the great corrective. Cold wealth
er usually destroys the germs Of
the epidemic diseases to which we are
occasionally liable in this Southern
climate. A succession of thunder
storms would doubtless do the same.
We always observe that the air is
pure and bracing after a thunder
storm. The beasts of the field and
the birds Of the air and the insects
that can only be enumerated by the
entomologist seem to be aware of the
change and to be thankful to the Gre
atOr. The winter of '78 was unusually
mild, as We showed the other day by
reference to the record of the signal
service. The summer of '78 was one
of the hottest and sultriest ever
known in the South. The most of
those who remained at home in Mem
phis we're we'll nigh broken down and
prostrated long before we had any
thought of an epidemic. When it
came we were already sick and ready
to succumb to its ravages. The win.
ter and spring that followed afford
marked contrast to the corresponding
season year previous. We have not
only had an abundance Of really cold
weather, but frequent and severe
thunder and hail storms. To this
fact we alluded in a former
article. Even so far south as New
Orleans and San Antonio, Texas, as
we'll as all along the Gulf and Atlantic
coast, the people have been startled
by the fierce heavy rattle of hail
stones. Last night we mad another
heavy thunder storm in the vicinity of
Memphis. We nearly always escape
the damage but enjoy the benefits of
such storms. We can surely look for
ward with the utmost confidence to
a healthy season, fine crops of every
thing except the fruit, which was
killed by heavy frOsts, and to a sum
mer of exceptional business activity,
Our merchants are generally hopeful
and the people in good spirits. The
outlook for Memphis is in every sense
as encouraging and far more satisfac
tory than could have been possibly
expected few months ago. Memphis
is not dead nor dying. the reports of
interested parties to the contrary not
withstanding. Bya long pull, q strong
pull aud pull altogether, we will
come out Of the mirc yet, and fulfil a
splendid destiny.


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