View report page

9
But this theory of "diffusion" was in turn also soon doomed to perish.
For the "germs" almost immediately were scattered throughout England, the
spray flew over Scotland, and the telegraph flashed the tidings of its "diffu¬.
sion" in Ireland. Now I suppose that at this hour few would be ready to
contend that the germs originating in the Old Ford water had in this way
carried the pestilence to the remotest parts of the United Kingdom; and
then, if confined to the metropolis, one cannot help admiring the discriminating
power of the theorist, and the exactitude of science, which are able to
mark out tho line within which the germ can, and beyond which the germ
cannot take action, and call forth the pestilence.
Away from the foul water doctrine, writers on the subject are at sad
difference to account for Cholera. Some of the theories may be interesting
to notice. The Medical Officer of a neighbouring district, held in high
esteem, has been at the trouble to collect some of the latest discoveries,
which, with his permission, I will jot down as they occur:—
"1. Cholera is caused and propagated by atmospheric influence.
2. The telluric theory, or supposed poisonous exhalations from the earth.
3. Electric and ozonic theory.
4. Emanations from putrid animal matter considered as the cause, and
of some other epidemical diseases.
5. Tho zymotic, or yeast, or fermenting theory, assumes that the
Cholera matter taken into the system, is capable, by human intercourse, of
leavening the whole of maukind.
G. The animalcule theory, as springing from minute insects analagous
to the blight on fruit trees.
7. That each Cholera patient gives off a specific poison like that of
Small-pox, attacking those only who are pre-disposed. (This is very good,
only it does not say how the first patient becomes seized with the Cholera.)
8. From fungi, arising from the excretions, such as natnralists attribute
to cryptogamic plants.
9. Dr. Snow's theory of water polluted with Sewage, &c.
10. Dr. Budd's theory of a living organism of a distinct species of the
fungus tube, taken in by swallowing, infinitely multiplying by self-propagation,
and in the bowels causing the peculiar flux of Cholera.