Notes on the origin, nature, prevention, and treatment of Asiatic cholera / by John C. Peters.

  • Peters, John C. (John Charles), 1819-1893.
Date:
1867
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Notes on the origin, nature, prevention, and treatment of Asiatic cholera / by John C. Peters. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    cretions ; but by means of certain changes which the latter undergo after they have Y^enetrated beneath the ground, when the soil is light and porous, i. e., permeable to air and water; especially of sub-soil water, already impregnated with the products of organic decomposition, of excrementitious or feecal origm, is present within a certain distance of the surface, say, within five or fifty feet. This filthy sub-soil water beneath habitations he regards as far more injurious than that of more or less distant marshes, or low banks of rivers. The germs of cholera are supposed to be contained in the discharges of cholera patients, but these do not become poisonous so as to reproduce the disease in others imtil they have penetrated tlirough the earth dovra to the sub-soil water. The nearer this sub-soil water lies to the surface, and the more it is contaminated, previously, by drainage from cess-pools, sewers, privies, middens, &c., the more rapid and extensive wiU be the reproduction of cholera. There may be some little truth in this ; but soil or earth is the best disinfectaut, and when rain is poured copiously upon, and sinks down into it, it caiTies oxygen and dissolved air with it, and begins an action so extensive, that by it, we may say, nearly all the puri- fication of the world is performed. But if ram falls and re- mains on or near the surface, it soon loses its oxygen, purifica- tion ceases, and vapors arising carry up some of the injiui- ous gases with it. Tliis is the case with marsh miasm ; and if water does not flow freely beneath tlie soil by means of natural or artificial drains, tlie earth will not destroy tlie poi- son, which will be liberated in full strength when the ground is turned up. Hence, clay bottoms and rocks a small distaiice beneath the surface may retain moisture enough to cause dis- ease ; but light porous soils will prevent it. The principal