[From the sheets of the N. W. Med. and Surg. Journal.] 
CHOLERA 
Its Cause, Pathology and Treatment. 
By William B. Herrick, M. D., Professor of Anatomy in 
Rush Medical College, Chicago. 
In making some remarks upon Cholera in the January No. 
of this Journal, it was stated in substance, as our opinion, that 
the electrical changes constantly taking place on the earth’s 
surface, in the atmosphere and in our own and the bodies of 
other animals, must have an influence either directly or indi- 
rectly in the modification and production of this and other 
similar epidemics. 
At that time and during the previous fall and winter, my 
young friend Dr. J. H. Bird and myself had been collecting 
facts with the view of determining to what extent, the sub- 
stance produced during the passage of electrical currents 
through the atmosphere, called by the discoverer ozone, might 
act as a deleterious agent in causing disease. 
Our attention was first directed to this subject by reading an 
extract from a German Periodical, in the Amer. Jour. Med. 
Sciences for July 1S48, in which it is stated in substance that 
experiments made some years since Schonbein, ten- 
ded to show that where ordinary electricity passes from 
pointed bodies, through the atmosphere, this substance is pro- 
duced. 
Vol. II, No. 2.-7. 182 
CHOLERA. 
The experiments made by Schonbein, soon after the discov- 
ery of ozone, were verified by numerous other chemists, in or- 
der to determine its true nature and chemical relations. A 
good description of the different circumstances under which 
ozone is produced naturally, and of the various methods for 
obtaining it artificially, may be found in an extract from a 
letter to M. Dumas from M. d’Marignac, published in the 
Chemical Gazette for April 1845. 
Most chemists describe ozone as being constituted of three 
parts of oxygen to one of Hydrogen, making a tritoxide of 
Hydrogen. All agree that it is one of the most powerful oxi- 
dizing agents known. By virtue of this property, it decom- 
poses most compounds constituted in whole or in part of sub- 
stances having an affinity for oxygen, such as sulphureted and 
carbureted Hydrogen, Iodide of Potassium, &c., converts 
protoxides, into peroxides and gives up to carbon and hydro- 
gen its oxygen to form carbonic acid and water. The best 
test for ozone is iodide of potassium dissolved in a 
solution of starch; the ozone, acting as a decomposing 
agent upon the iodide of potassium, liberates iodine.— 
Uncombined iodine, having a . strong affinity for starch, 
combines with it, to form the wTell known compound, 
iodide of starch, the beautiful blue color of which forms its 
principal characteristic. In view of these facts, it is easily 
understood, why it is, that strips ol paper moistened with the 
above named solution and exposed to an atmosphere contain- 
ing ozone, assume a blue tint, more intense, and acquired more 
rapidly in proportion to the amount of ozone present. 
The smallest possible quantity of ozone, it is said, can be 
detected by this test; in using it however, care should be 
taken, not to expose the strips of paper in situations where 
gases, such as sulphureted and carbureted hydrogen, may be 
suspected to be present, as these, as well as most other high- 
ly combustible substances, decompose ozone. 
Ozone, acting as it does, as an intense oxidizing agent, is 
known to have a powerful influence both upon organic and in- CHOLERA. 
organic substances, in causing chemical changes. We might 
be led to infer, therefore, even in the absence of facts to sup- 
port the conclusion, that animals living in and breathing an 
atmosphere containing it, would be liable to become in some 
way affected by its influence. All the facts, and the results of 
a few experiments, fully justify this conclusion. 
Small animals confined in an atmosphere impregnated with 
ozone, die in from five to ten minutes, and two or three inhala- 
tions of ozonized air by individuals engaged in experiments, 
have uniformly produced irritation and, in some instances, a[de- 
greeof inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the air pas- 
sages, similar to that caused by breathing chlorine or bromine ; 
hence the conclusion arrived at by Schonbein that ozone might 
be the principal, if not, the only cause of epidemic influenza. 
These conclusions of Schonbein are well sustained both by 
arguments and facts drawn from various sources. In the 
Amer. Jour, of Med. Science for July 1848 may be found the 
translation from Schonbein’s article, [[from which we take the 
following brief extract: 
“Now if it were shown, that at certain periods, character- 
ized by a general prevalence of catarrhal affections, large 
quantities of chlorine or bromine were present in the atmos- 
phere, no one would hesitate to ascribe the cause of these dis- 
eases to the above substances. But it is an established fact, 
that by the inhalation of proportionally small quantities of 
ozone, physiological effects are produced similar to those 
which are occasioned by the inhalation of air charged with 
chlorine or bromine. This led Schonbein many years ago to 
conjecture that many catarrhal affections might be owing to 
the presence of ozone in the atmosphere. In the course of 
last winter, several catarrhal epidemics occured in Basle, so 
that very few persons escaped ; and Schonbein and many 
physicians of that town, instituted a series of daily observa- 
tions, with the view of ascertaining how far the rapidity and 
intensity of the blue coloration of the iodide paste were con- 
nected with the prevalence and intensity of the catarrhal 
symptoms : the results were conclusive as to the simultaneity 
of the maximum of the coloration with the extremest intensity 
of the epidemic.” CHOLERA. 
Dr. Spengler states “ that in the village of Roggendorf, ira 
Mecklenburgh, towards the close of 1846, slight catarrhal af- 
fections became prevalent,—that but flight trace of ozone was 
then to be detected in the air. With the opening of the fol- 
lowing year, however, these catarrhal affections assumed the 
severest forms of tracheal and bronchial disease, hooping- 
cough became common, both among children and adults; then' 
reagents detected a great increase of ozone in the atmosphere, 
and, at the same time, influenza spread over the district. On 
the 9th January, the ozonometer showed a still further increase 
in the proportion of ozone present in the air. On the same 
day two persons died of influenza, and gradually the influen- 
za spread more extensively, until, on the 21st, scarcely an in- 
dividual had escaped. Thus there seemed a decided connec- 
tion between the presence of ozone in the air and the spread 
of the epidemic.” 
Dr. Day, in a scientific and well written work on the “Dis- 
eases of advanced life” recently published, gives a brief his- 
tory of the epidemic influenza, which prevailed in England 
in 1847, and in his remarks upon the causes, uses the follow- 
ing language: 
“ A theory has been recently propounded by an eminent 
German chemist (Schonbein, the discoverer of gun-cotton) 
that epidemic influenza is dependent on the presence of an 
imponderable agent termed ozone, in the atmosphere. This 
ozone is apparently a result of atmospheric electricity. It 
may be prepared in the laboratory of the chemist, and from 
what we know of its properties there are d priori reasons for 
suspecting that it would, if existing in the air we breathe, give 
rise to great irritation of the respiratory organs. Several phy- 
sicians have actually found that an excess of this material was 
present in the atmosphere during the late epidemic.” 
Numerous other facts and arguments might be urged in sup- 
port of Schonbein’s theory, but want of time and space com- 
pels us to close our remarks upon this point, with the express- 
ion of the belief on our part, that subsequent observations and 
experiments will ultimately sustain us in what we now as- 
sume to be a fact, as well substantiated as any other in medi- CHOLERA.. 
cine of a similar character, that ozone is the cause of epidemic 
influenza. 
Having arrived at this important conclusion, we' are natur- 
ally led to inquire', in the next place, if other and similar dis- 
eases may not be dependent upon the same cause ? The his- 
" tory of most epidemics shows, that in many respects, they 
are similar, appearing and disappearing as most of them do, 
without any assignable cause: severe and fatal in their effects 
at the onset; but more mild., and comparatively harmless, as 
the time approaches for their disappearance. 
Asiatic Cholera is a disease, the history of which is so near- 
ly allied to that of epidemic influenza, that a description of 
either, needs but a"change'of the nameand we have an equally 
correct account of the other, as will be seen by taking the fol- 
lowing brief extracts from Dr. Hancock’s book on Cholera, 
published in London in 1832, and comparing them, with 
others placed opposite, selected from Dr. Day on Epidemic 
Influenza, contained in his new work on the “Diseases of ad- 
vanced life.” 
Dr. Hancock on "Cholera. 
Dr. Day on Epidemic Influ- 
enza. 
“The cholera traversed the 
great part of Europe last year 
(1831.) In Warsaw it appear- 
ed in April, Dantzic and Riga, 
it visited in May; Archangel 
and Petersburg!], in June;Pesth 
and Bucharest in July; it 
reached Berlin in August; Vi- 
enna in September; Hamburgh 
in October; and the eastern 
shores of England at the close 
•of the year.” 
“The great epidemics (In- 
fluenzas ) generally travel 
from Russia, over Germany 
Denmark, Sweden, England 
France, Italy, Spain, in from 
three to six months ; and 
then reach America.” CHOLERA. 
Those attached with Cholera 
“were the poor, ill fed and 
wretched and it broke out in 
the low, confined and filthy 
places in which the population 
was most dense.” 
“Influenza appears to be 
generated in ill organized 
camps and in crowded, ill 
cleansed cities, and to be the 
most fatal among people 
who have for some time 
been depressed and ill fed.” 
“It was severe and generally 
fatal at the beginning, and mild 
and manageable at the decline, 
in every place. Its duration 
as an epidemic seldom exceed- 
ed two months.” 
“It attained the greatest 
intensity in the second v?eek 
of its course; raged with 
nearly equal violence the 
third week; declined in the 
fourth, and then partly dis- 
appeared.” 
The analogy between the twro Epidemics under considera- 
tion, is shown to be most remarkable, by the following quota- 
tations from different authors. 
Dr. Hancock states, that at the close of the year 1832, it 
had appeared on the Eastern coast of England, after having 
passed over the Northern and Eastern part of Europe. The 
great part of the West and South of Europe had not as yet 
been visited by the Epidemic. “But” sa}rs he “these parts 
though exempt from Cholera have not been free from other 
maladies.” 
“In France, we are told, that the pulmonary Catarrh 
or Grippe, has been raging to a considerable™ extent, and has 
even reached Italy, creating much alarm at Rome- Diseases 
in truth seem to have experienced remarkable interchanges 
of climate and season. While Europe has had Cholera as it 
appeared in India, some parts of India, as Culcutta, have 
been affected with a disease, which they call a newr Epi- 
demic, like the Influenza or Grippe, lately prevalent in 
France. Cholera, a disease of Antumn and heat, has showm 
itself in the cold of Winter.” CHOLERA. 
187 
Dr. J Spencer, one of the most correct observers, and tal- 
ented physicians of our own country, wrote an essay on Cho- 
lera, which w’as published during its prevalence here in 
1833, from w'hich we take the following extract expressive of 
his belief, even at that time, in the origin of both diseases 
from the same cause. “Influenza has generally preceded the 
invasion of the present epidemic, and presents an interesting 
association with the history of this malady. The epidemic 
predisposition in the influenza, appears to be thrown upon the 
mucous membrane of the lungs, which entirely resembles in 
its organization the structure of the intestinal membrane.” 
A comparison of the history of both epidemics show's that 
influenza has always proceeded, frequently accompanied, and 
generally followed, the appearance of cholera. 
Meteorological facts and statistics show that the state of the 
atmosphere, as to its electrical condition, temperature, humid- 
ity, movements, &c., is similar, previous to the appearance 
and during the prevalence of Cholera, to that w'hich precedes 
and accompanies influenza. Influenza, like cholera, finds by 
far the greater number of its victims in the narrow, badly 
ventilated streets of large cities, among the half-clothed, starv- 
ing victims of poverty. During the prevalence of both chol- 
era and influenza, all classes suffer more or less; some to a 
greater, others to a less extent. Both diseases attack, without 
distinction, the aged, middle aged and young, and both con- 
tinue alike, about the same length of time ; more severe and 
fatal in their effects at the onset, J:han at any subsequent pe- 
riod. 
In view of the above facts, taken in connection with numer- 
ous others of the some import, we 'are justified, as it appears 
to us, incoming to the conclusion that Cholera and Influenza 
are so nearly allied as to justify us in assuming that both are 
produced by the same cause, and that this cause is Ozone. 
Having assumed as we do that ozone is the cause of Chol- 
era, we shall now, after refering briefly to a few physiological 
facts, attempt to explain its mode of action. 188 
CHOLERA. 
According to the views of modern physiologists* the inspired-: 
oxygen mingles with the blood in the lungs, without combin- 
ing chemically with any of its constituents, and remains thus- 
uncombined in a state of diffusion in this fluid, during its pas- 
sage to, and until it reaches the systemic capillaries, where 
certain changes are known to take place, such as the disap- 
pearance of oxygen, the production of carbonic acid and the 
generation of animal heat. All the chemico-vital changes con- 
stantly going on during the continuance of healthy vital ac- 
tion, take place doubtless in the capillary vessels of each par- 
ticular part or organ. 
It is evident then, that these important changes would not 
occur, nor could the functions of any organ be properly per- 
formed, without a due supply of arterial blood, constituted of 
its normal constituents, and furnished by the lungs with the 
proper amount of uncombined oxygen- 
Cholera is a disease, the symptoms of which, such as livid- 
ity and coldness, shrinking of the skin, stoppage of all the se- 
cretions, See., indicate most clearly the want of healthy action 
in these vessels. It is absurd to suppose, for instance that in 
this disease as in health, oxygen and the constituents of the blood' 
and tissues combine chemically, in the capillaries since no ani- 
mal heat is generated in these vessels as the result of such com- 
bination ; yet it is evident from the appearance of the blood in 
this disease, that such changes do occur, and that arterial is 
converted into venous blood, more effectually and rapidly even,, 
than in health. The icy coldness pervading the breath, mucous 
membrane and whole external sui’face, shows conclusively that 
no such changes take place either in the pulmonic or systemic 
capillaries, yet both sides of the heart and all the blood ves- 
sels, arteries as well as veins are found to contain, both before 
and after death, dark venous blood. 
These facts, taken in connection with numerous others, 
which will be referred to hereafter, show as conclusively as 
the nature of the case will admit, that these changes in the 
blood, take place in the arteries, and left side of the hearty during CHOLERA, 
189 
its passage to, and before it reaches the systemic capilliares. 
It is evident, that, in health, there exists in these vessels 
a force, by the action of which, chemical union is ef- 
fected, between elements, which, though in contact and inti- 
mately blended together, do not combine in passing through 
the heart and large arterial trunks, in which no such force ex- 
ists. 
Now if it can be made to appear that in some diseases, as 
in cholera, a force equal to, or stronger than this, acts upon 
the arterial blood during its passage to, and before it escapes 
the systemic capillaries, causing a chemical combination of its 
constituents with oxygen, there is no difficulty in explaining 
how ozone, one of the most powerful oxydizing agents known, 
produces cholera. 
When present in the air, it passes into, and is mixed with 
the arterial blood like pure oxygen and being, as it is, a com- 
pound of oxygen and hydrogen \ easily decomposes, slight 
causes effect a separation of its elements and the consequent 
production in the arteries of new compounds of oxygen and 
the constituents of the blood, similar to those produced nat- 
urally in the capillaries. 
During the decomposition of the ozone, its oxygen being in 
the nascent state and consequently more ready to form new 
combinations, changes the arterial blood to venous, during its 
passage along the heart and arteries, previous to reaching the 
systemic capillaries. 
This view of the pathology of cholera is sustained both by 
the symptoms during life, and examinations after death. The 
burning sensation constantly present at the pit of the stomach, 
and the insatiable thirst for cold drinks, always manifested by 
cholera patients, show that so far as their feelings and desires 
are indicative of their condition, heat must be generated in 
the heart and large arteries of the chest and abdomen as the 
result of chemical changes; whilst the entire absence of it, 
on the surface, at the extremities, and in the mucous mem- 
brane lining the cavities, are equally conclusive evidence that 190 
CHOLERA. 
no such changes take place in the capillary vessels. Growth 
nutrition, secretion, and excretion are, to a certain extent, the 
result of chemico-vital changes in the systemic capillaries, 
consequent upon the action of uncombined oxygen upon the 
constituents of the blood and tissues. The almost entire ab- 
sence, in cholera, of all these vital phenomena, may be ex- 
plained by assuming, what facts seem to justify, that the 
blood undergoes a change similar to that from arterial to ve- 
nous, previous to reaching the capillary vessels of the differ- 
ent organs and tissues. 
That the arterial blood in this disease undergoes a change, 
identical with, or similar to, that which takes place naturally 
in the systemic capillaries, is evident from numerous facts. 
Twenty dissections of cholera patients made in Edinburgh 
by John Lizars Esq., presented indications of this change of 
the blood, as will be seen by the following quotations. “Brain 
—This organ was examined in twelve subjects, and in all, 
the arteries and veins of the integuments were distended with 
dark blood.” “Heart—In thirteen the right side was full of 
dark blood.” Aorta—In all it contained more or less dark 
blood.” 
Dr. John Ware, in giving a description of the post-mortem 
appearances in twenty cholera patients, says, “The arteries 
always contained black blood.” 
In the Madras report on cholera, will be found the follow- 
ing statements concerning the condition of the blood in the 
arteries, previous to death. ‘‘The temporal artery having 
been frequently opened, the blood was found to be dark and 
thick, like venous blood.” 
The above theory gains additional support from the fact, 
that the blood secretions and excretions, in cholera, contain 
an unusual amount of highly oxygenized constituents, in the 
form of coloring matter, acids, &c. In fact there is nothing, 
so far as we have been able to judge, in the history, morbid 
changes, or results of different kinds of treatment in cholera, 
inconsistent with these views of its cause and pathology. CHOLERA. 
Facts tending to show that the blood in the arteries of chol- 
era patients, undergoes important changes, effected pro- 
bably by the influence of oxygen, could be multiplied to 
almost any extent, but as it seems unnecessary to say more 
upon this point, we will now pass to the consideration of the 
mosbimportant part of our subject: The treatment of Chol- 
era. 
Cholera, according to the views and opinions expressed 
above, is a disease in which the arterial is changed to venous 
blood, before it reaches the systemic capillaries, or to ex- 
press our views of its pathology more definitely, its capacity 
for affording nutriment and supplying animal heat to the dif- 
ferent organs and tissues, is impaired or destroyed, as the case 
may be, as a consequence of the combination of many of its 
most important constituent with oxygen, under the influence 
of that most powerful oxydizing agent ozone. 
If ozone is the cause of cholera, as we have endeavored to 
show, and if the symptoms and morbid changes in this dis- 
ease are produced by its action as an oxvdizing agent upon 
the constituents of arterial blood, it is evident that the proper 
remedial agents for this disease are such substances as most 
effectually aud rapidly destroy ozone. 
All that class of bodies known as combustibles, possess 
this power, to a greater or less extent, in proportion to their 
affinity for oxygen, and are therefore the proper remedies for 
the disease in question. That they are so, is evident from the 
fact that highly combustible substances, such as camphor, 
ether and chloroform, have always been used, and considered 
by many, as among the most efficient medicines for cholera, 
This class of medicines has become popular and is used, 
because experience proves that beneficial results follow their 
administration; not because we had any just conception of 
their mode of action : that they are so, no one could doubt, 
after witnessing the effects recently observed by the writer 
and numerous otheis, from the use of sulphur as a remedy 
for cholera, as first sugested and administered by Dr. J. H. 192 
CHOLERA. 
Bird of this city. The letter upon this subject from him to 
me as editor of this Journal, has been received too late to 
appear among the original communications of this number: it 
is mutually agreed between us, that the most important facts 
containedjin it shall appear, in connection with this, my expla- 
nation of its mode of action, and that the next number shall 
contain a'detailed account from him, of cases which have 
been, or may hereafter be, subjected to the sulphur treatment. 
Soon after the reception of the letter referred to above, and 
after the sulphur treatment had been fully tested by Drs. Bird, 
Blaney and myself, I was induced, in compliance with the so- 
licitations of numerous citizens who had experienced the ben- 
eficial effects following from its use to depart, somewhat, 
from the course usually pursued by medical men, in reference 
to newly discovered remedial agents, and make a public an- 
nouncement of the facts contained in the letter and the results 
of our experience, in the Chicago Journal of the twenty-ninth 
of May. 
Experience since that time, has convinced us of the propri- 
ety of departing somewhat from the course recommended at 
that time, in using the remedy more frequently and in larger 
doses. In other respects, our views are as expressed in the 
letter and embodied in the following extract: 
“ In one of our recent Medical Journals, an article appear- 
ed describing the method of detecting ozone in the atmosphere, 
thus supplying the means of determining whether or not it 
was present at the very time when cholera was beginning to 
make its appearance amongst us. 
Dr. Bird’s experiments as well as those made subsequent- 
ly by Dr. Blaney and myself from day to day since that time, 
show that ozone is present in our atmosphere, and that the 
amount is in proportion to the severity of the disease from time 
to time. 
About a week since Dr. Bird determined to try the effects 
of sulphur upon himself and others, troubled as nearly all have 
been more or less of late, with uneasy sensations, slight pains 
&c., in the digestive organs. 
The beneficial effects resulting from its use both in his and CHOLEKA. 
my practice was such as to convince me at once of its utility 
in the class of cases described above. 
During the last few days Drs. Bird, Blaney and myself 
have continued to use this apparently simple remedy to the 
exclusion of nearly all others in all cases of choleraic symp- 
toms. The result has been wonderful. All the premonitory 
symptoms, such as pain, a sense of fullness, unnatural move- 
ments, slight diarrhoea, &c., have uniformly yielded at once to 
a single dose of three, to four grains of sulphur. 
In cases where either cramps, diarrhea or vomiting have 
been present, and in fact where all these symptoms have exis- 
ted in conjunction, the use of sulphur in the above named 
doses every three or four hours, has had the effect to amelior- 
ate at once the patient’s condition. 
So far as its efficacy has been tested m the worst stages of 
collapse, most satisfactory results have been obtained. In two 
or three cases of the kind the effect of the lemedy has been 
to bring back pulse to the wrist, restore warmth to the surface, 
and stop the profuse diarrhoea and vomiting. 
In truth, the results obtained so far, have been such as to 
convince all of us, who have administered it, and witnessed 
its e fleets that if any remedy deserves the appellation, this is a spe- 
cific for cholera. 
It having been determined to make this public statement, it 
is expected in return that no hasty conclusions will be made, 
either for or against what appears to be a proposition to ac- 
complish much by very simple means. 
Although the results, so far as obtained, in a short time, and 
by a few individuals, seem to justify our conclusions, it is 
hoped that physicians will continue to depend on what they 
consider the most efficient practice, in bad cases of the chole- 
ra, until they shall have tested the matter themselves, and 
formed their own conclusions; and also, that whatever may 
be the confidence of individuals in this or any other remedy j 
they will not depend upon their own judgement in any case, 
even of slight symptoms, whenever it is possible to consult 
their physician.” 
Since the publication of the letter from which the above is 
an extract, we have become convinced from experience 
and observation, that sulphur possesses all the powers claimed 
for it, as a curative agent in cases of pure cholera; but it is lia- 
ble as we know, to fall into disrepute as a remedy, in the 194 
hands of physicians, who, for the want of proper discrimina- 
tion, look upon and treat, as cholera, during its prevalence, all 
other diseases of the digestive organs. With regard to the 
action of sulphur, it may be said, that it is by no means, pro- 
bable that it is taken into the blood, in the crude state, or that 
it acts very efficiently in effecting the decomposition of ozone 
in the form of a simple body ; on the contrary, the escape of 
hydrogen from the stomach and rectum, and the 
odor from the surface, always present, whenever sulphur is 
given to cholera' patients, indicate most clearly, that its com- 
pounds, such as sulphurous acid and sulphureted hydrogen 
are found almost immediately after its administration, and 
therefore that these, of all others the most diffusible and com- 
bustible of gases, are the real and efficient agents by which 
the decomposition and consequent destruction of ozone is ef- 
fected. 
CHOLERA 
If highly combustible gases, such as the sulphureted and 
carbureted hydrogen, and those constituted in part of am- 
monia and phosphorus decompose ozone, districts in the vicin- 
ity of sulphur springs, and of decomposing animal and veg- 
etable matters, ought to be less subject to the prevalence and 
spread of cholera. That a few sporadic cases may have oc- 
curred in the neighborhood of such springs, is not strange; 
since strangers are constancy visiting such watering places 
and might be attacked immediately after their arrival, and 
before they had experienced the beneficial influences of a 
residence in their vicinity ; but so far as can be ascertained 
by inquiries, assiduously made, of those most likely to be in- 
formed upon this point, cholera has never prevailed as an 
epidemic in sulphur districts. That the gases produced dur- 
ing the decomposition of animal and vegetable matter are 
preventatives of cholera, is evident from numerous facts,among 
the most conclusive of which are those obtained by the re- 
searches of M. Double in 1832, and embodied in one of the 
following extracts selected from various sources and offered CHOLERA. 
in conslusion, as additional facts confirmatory of the above 
views. 
31. Double has made a report to the Royal Academy of 
Medicine on this subject. When the cholera appeared at 
Blios, a physician of that town saw with fear that the work- 
men had unpaved the streets for the purpose of cleansing 
them ; he feared that the removed earth might give rise to fa- 
tal or choleric exhalations, an observation which he thought 
had already been made at Paris. In consequence of which 
he wrote to the prefect, and the latter transmitted his letteis 
to the minister, who sent them to the Academy to decide the 
question. Numerous researches were necessary to arrive at 
this solution : 31. Double devoted himself with the greatest 
care to this subject; he described all the work of this kind 
which had been done in Paris since the origin and during the 
existence of the cholera; he has followed them from street 
to street in the different sections of the city; he has given all 
their dimensions; he has pointed out the nature of the seve- 
ral strata of earth which have been dug out, and after the re- 
moval of the earth, he has shown that the inhabitants of the 
streets where the excavations were made, as well as the 
workmen employed, have been without comparison more 
healthy than all others. He supports this remark, both by 
the recent experience of M. Parent-Duchatelet, and by the 
observation made at Montfaucon, where persons are occupi- 
ed in the most unhealthy work, and where notwitstanding 
very few of the workmen are effected. From these facts M. 
Double conludes that the exhalations which escape from ani- 
mal matters are not so dangerous as have heretofore been sup- 
posed, and that, even during an epidemic, the removal of 
earth, which increases these exhalations, can be made without 
danger; but that this, however, should not restrain the ad- 
ministration, when peculiar circumstances should force it to 
defer enterprise of this nature. After an animated discussion 
the Academy decided that the conclusion of this report 
should not be expressed in terms decidedly affirmative. 
However, the final drawing up of the report was entrusted to 
M. Double, and the report and his conclusions were put to the 
vote and wrere adopted.—Archives Generates, 1832- 
“If ozone is the cause of cholera and is the poison which 
produces the disease, as is alledged by Dr. Bird of Chicago, 
then it is a simple thing to account for the abscence of cholera 196 
CHOLERA. 
in our city at the present time, as well the mild type in 
which it was exhibited in 1838-4. The sulpher which exists 
in great quantities in our atmosphere, unites with the ozone 
and destroys its influence.”—Pittsburgh paper, June 1848. 
“If the prevalence of influenza and cholera, be ow'ing to 
ozone, the vapors of sulpher, or sulphurous gasses, must 
be protective against it. This is confirmed by, wffiile it ex- 
plains the immunity of those engaged in, or living near sul- 
pher works.”—*Trans. from German,"from Ileils Zeitschrift. 
“Another circumstance which tends strongly to coroborate 
the same theory, we have ascertained by inquiring at the city 
inspectors office. During the cholera of 1832 not one of the 
many scavengers employed who enhaled an atmosphere tinc- 
tured with sulphureted hydrogen, was taken with the disease. 
Gas manufactories and other establishmens wfflere sulphur is 
evolved, are also exampt from its attacks.”—New York Tri- 
bnne. 
During the prevalence of this distemper in ’32 I lived in 
Birmingham, (England) where more Sulphuric Acid is made 
and used than any other place, perhaps, in the world; and 
though all the towns and villages for many miles around 
were severely afflicted, the disease never reached Birming- 
ham except in one instance of an aged female, and nearly all 
the physicians there denied that as being cholera.—*Correspon- 
dent Ibid. 
I have received yours of this date, [June 13’49] and 
have no hesitation in corroborating what jmu say as to my 
having visited the Cholera Sheds in 1832-4, for the purpose 
of seeing that the attendants and nurses did their duty to the 
poor sufferers or patients. I went among them without fear 
having impregnated my body with sulphur, owing to my friend 
Colquhon Sterling, Esq., of Edinbarnet, near Glasgow' hav- 
ing assured me that after being 35 years in India, in the 
Medical Department, and to the head of which he had been 
raised, he had never known an instance of any person being 
seized with cholera who had put their bodies into that state ,* 
and that even, after the disease had seized them, by dosing 
them with sulphur and characoal, it generally operated as a 
cure. Letter from A. Ferric to A. Urquhart, Montreal.