Obserbations on the Origin and Treatment or Cholera (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1831 Excerpt: ... the writings of even our most experienced physicians on these subjects.--In the remarks of the venerable Dr. Jackson, on the Yellow-fever of Cadiz, (p. 198, )--which, from personal observation, he pronounced not contagious, --we notice the following: --" The latent quality in the atmosphere, which constitutes what is called the epidemic constitution, is absolutely unknown to physicians or naturalists. It acts on the endemic, or on the contagious fever, by secret agency." In the same paragraph, he observes, "it produces or modifies a disease which acts like a pestilence, but does not appear to pass from person to person, and thus to multiply itself by its own act;--in fact, it is not contagious in the proper sense of the word. But though fever, modified by epidemic influence, be not personally contagious, it is capable of being converted into contagious fever, by the accumulation of its subjects in narrow and ill-ventilated apartments." This is truly groping in the dark;--we know that pollution of the air is increased by concentration, or by crowding many people together, and that, in such places, a greater number must be attacked, --for the two-fold reason, multiplication of chances and aggravation of the cause: --not that a new or contagious disease is generated. Such, however, are the errors which result from false associations, and the difficulty of separating ideal contagion from the effects of foul air. The delicate tenure by which life is sustained--depending on the purity of the air, --is not sufficiently recognised or kept in view, --or, that every orgasm and organic impulse in the system depends on a due ventilation of the blood in the All writers concur, that there is something inexplicable in the idea of contagion and pestilence, --they are bewildered w...