CONTRIBUTIONS TO By E.
THE CHOLERA LITERATURE.
BONAVIA,
M.D.
(Continued from page 3, Vol. II., Note.?I may
as
No.
I.)
well inform, the reader that what I have
intend to write about cholera in this periodical hypothesis ; as such, it may he useful as an indication?as a new standing point?from which we may observe the phenomena connected with this disease. The known and often contradictory phenomena of cholera are more likely to be colligated by some such dynamic hypothesis, than by one in which To search for the ultia material poison is the main agent. mate cause of any phenomenon is of coui-se beyond the bounds of science. Phenomena occur in an endless chain or circle, one giving rise to another, and so forth; so that it is impossible for human investigation ever to reach a phenomenon which can written and
is
merely
a
be called ultimate. What we are endeavouring to discover is, what phenomenon or set of phenomena immediately precedes cholera, in the chain of sequences, in order that we may, if prevent the disease from occurring, avoid or neu-
possible,
tralize it when it does italics are
occur.
("When
not otherwise
stated,
all
mine).
Origin of Cholera.?Before discussing the origin of prepare the reader by reviewing the various influences to which, at any moment, the nervous system, the essential part of man, may be exposed. lsi.?Man is subject to influences emanating directly from the sun, whether these be of light, heat, electricity, magnetism, or attraction. "With regard to the latter force, if the sun is capable of attracting the fluids of the earth towards it, man being on the side of the earth which is exposed to the sun, must come under the same influence of attraction (whatever that may be). We must, for similar reasons, grant some inNo. IIcholera, I
must
fluence to the moon; and when the sun and moon are acting in direction, such influence is increased.
the same
2nd.?Man, living on it, forms
to move on
the surface of the an
integral part
earth, although able it, and must more or
of
34* less
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
bo influenced
earth,
whether of
by whatever disturbances occur in the electricity, magnetism, heat, light, motion,*
&c. 3rd.?Man is subject to influences resulting from the motion, composition, texture, electric tension, &c., of the atmosphere, including emanations from animals, plants, and decomposing substances
the face of the earth. subject to the influences of radiation from from or slow oxidation of organic matter, radiation and last, but not least, animal radiation, especially
on
1th.?He
Eremacausis, living plants,
is
that from human beings in a state of health or disease. 5th. Influences resulting from the different kinds of dietetic and medicinal substances. Those I have enumerated are external influences. Besides, there
arc?
Qth,?Internal influences, such as mental, and others. are so The two sets of influences, viz., internal and externa colligated, through the medium of the nervous system, that a change in the external nature must, as a matter of course,
corresponding changc in the internal nature of man. were not provided with a nervous surface to ] lis body, external changes might be communicated to his nervecentres, through the medium of the inter-atomic ether. It is true that external changes induce internal ones, but the nervous system, which acts as the link between the two, is in many instances able to balance the two natures by adapting the internal movements of the organism to the external ones, and thus resisting or neutralizing any bad effects which might result from the latter. On the contrary, when the nervous system, produce
Even if
a
man
because of circumstances under which it may at the moment docs not balance the two sets of movements, disease is the result, f
be,
*
on
Has the mechauical motion of the earth round its axis any influence beyond what may result from exposure of different sides to the
man, sun ?
t The following, although apparently a digression from my main subject, is of too much importance to the welfare of man to be left undiscussed here. " The
equation of animal and vegetable life is too complicated a problem for human intelligence to solve, and we can never know how wide a circle of disturbance we produce in the harmonies of nature when we throw the smallest pebble into the ocean of organic life" (Marsh's " Man and Nature," p. 103.) The atmosphere and its elements are limited ; nature left alone balances exactly the animal and vegetable life on the earth. Man comes and multiplies. His wants urge him to become a great disturber of nature. For instance, he cuts down immense tracts of forest, by which he diminishes the reproduction of oxygen, and at the same time he multiplies himself and all his domestic animals, thereby increasing the disappearance of oxygen, and the reproduction of carbonic acid. So that cutting down large tracts of forest for the purpose of colonization, &c., acts directly and indirectly in lessening the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere, until the balance is somehow restored. Many have had experience of the necessity of balancing accurately the vegetable and animal life in an aquarium, where the water which acts
as
a
medium between the two is limited.
(Some time after I had written this note, I read in the Gazette of India, No. 49, p. 637, para. 6, the fallowing which is worth knowing : "The Commissioner of
Chutteesligur (Major Nembhard) has now, in an interesting report, brought prominently to notice the treelessness of and he has also expressed his opinion that the excesthe Itaepore plain ;
sive violence with which epidemic cholera rages, when it visits the Chutteesgurh plateau, is in part due to the utter absence of foliage which, acting on the atmosphere, might absorb some of the more noxious gases, and might exhale pure oxygen. This theory Major Nembhard
supports
by giving a detailed account of his observations in the wooded and in the treeless portions of Chutteesgurh. The experience of the Peshawur cantonment gives some ground for believing that Major Nembhard's belief, as to the salutary influence of trees, is not without foundation. Dr. S. C. Townsend, Civil Surgeon, Nagpore, who has had some experience in Northern India, considers that the theory, though as yet insufficiently established, is still well founded, and he believes that further observation will confirm it."
Major Nembhard states that on tjjo treeless plain in Chutteesgurh, cholera visitations are very frequent. In the intermediate space between the treeless plain and the forest, where the trees are sparse and
stunted,
[February 1,
1867.
ot the cholera only occasionally visits the villages, and in the villages " this is ? forest the disease is scarcely known, lie further states that careful fact of which I have satisfied myself by close observation and I have verified it enquiry during my recent circuit through the division ; till not a shadow of doubt could remain in my mind." The fact of the simultaneous presence of trees, and absence of cholera in Cliutteesgurh, although worth knowing, is not' conclusive, unless similar conditions in other places present the same phenomenon. That trees play a great part in the changes which concur to render animal life healthy or diseased, there can be scarcely any doubt, but we are hardly justified in inferring that only the oxygen which leaves give out is the factor in maintaining health. Prom their form, trees must play an important part
phenomena of radiation, and in those of electricity and magnetism. improbable that, by their dynamic agency, they modify the conditions necessary for the development of cholera). Some might object to take the foregoing into consideration, and say that as yet chemical analysis has not discovered any material differences in the composition of the atmosphere. Granted; but does man presume to possess, at present, means sufficiently accurate to indicate to him all the changes which are possible in the atmosphere ? Is it not possible that there are various allotropic states of the atmospheric constituents which we have not yet detected ? Ozone is comparatively a late discover}', and at some future period some other constituent may possibly come to our knowledge which will account for the apparent equi-composition of the atmosphere in different places. Moreover, thS clearing of forest exposes a large tract of the earth's surface to the direct rays of the sun, thereby disturbing the thermo-electricity of the earth. I think it is in
in the
It may not be
this condition of our earth that we are more likely to discover some connection with the prevalence of disease, viz., the thcrmo-electro-magnetic disturbances of certain parts of the earth dependent on the influence of the sun acting on certain soils, and modified by the covering of trees, &c.
argued that, although man clears forests, he plants the same with cultivated plants, such as wheat, rice, &c. Yes; but leaving out of consideration that different plants may have different dynamic and material effects on the atmosphere, the bulk of his cultivated plants are annuals, and consequently leave the ground tenantless at certain seasons,
It may be area
while trees are more or less permanent balancing machines. Take for instance India. One sees large tracts of land in certain seasons, covered ?with crops, without a single tree. "When these crops are cut, and the hot weather comes, all tho cropped land is exposed to the direct rays of the sun, which must more or less disturb the thermo-electricity of the earth. The singular feature of the case in India is that cultivators do not want trees near their fields, because, they sav. all the ground which is shaded by the trees is lost to them as ground for raising crops ! True, but let us examine whether this argument may not be a very fallacious one, and let us endeavour to ascertain what the cultivator's ultimate gain is, and what his loss. ]*
THE CHOLERA LITERATURE.
BONAVIA,
M.D.
(Continued from page 3, Vol. II., Note.?I may
as
No.
I.)
well inform, the reader that what I have
intend to write about cholera in this periodical hypothesis ; as such, it may he useful as an indication?as a new standing point?from which we may observe the phenomena connected with this disease. The known and often contradictory phenomena of cholera are more likely to be colligated by some such dynamic hypothesis, than by one in which To search for the ultia material poison is the main agent. mate cause of any phenomenon is of coui-se beyond the bounds of science. Phenomena occur in an endless chain or circle, one giving rise to another, and so forth; so that it is impossible for human investigation ever to reach a phenomenon which can written and
is
merely
a
be called ultimate. What we are endeavouring to discover is, what phenomenon or set of phenomena immediately precedes cholera, in the chain of sequences, in order that we may, if prevent the disease from occurring, avoid or neu-
possible,
tralize it when it does italics are
occur.
("When
not otherwise
stated,
all
mine).
Origin of Cholera.?Before discussing the origin of prepare the reader by reviewing the various influences to which, at any moment, the nervous system, the essential part of man, may be exposed. lsi.?Man is subject to influences emanating directly from the sun, whether these be of light, heat, electricity, magnetism, or attraction. "With regard to the latter force, if the sun is capable of attracting the fluids of the earth towards it, man being on the side of the earth which is exposed to the sun, must come under the same influence of attraction (whatever that may be). We must, for similar reasons, grant some inNo. IIcholera, I
must
fluence to the moon; and when the sun and moon are acting in direction, such influence is increased.
the same
2nd.?Man, living on it, forms
to move on
the surface of the an
integral part
earth, although able it, and must more or
of
34* less
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
bo influenced
earth,
whether of
by whatever disturbances occur in the electricity, magnetism, heat, light, motion,*
&c. 3rd.?Man is subject to influences resulting from the motion, composition, texture, electric tension, &c., of the atmosphere, including emanations from animals, plants, and decomposing substances
the face of the earth. subject to the influences of radiation from from or slow oxidation of organic matter, radiation and last, but not least, animal radiation, especially
on
1th.?He
Eremacausis, living plants,
is
that from human beings in a state of health or disease. 5th. Influences resulting from the different kinds of dietetic and medicinal substances. Those I have enumerated are external influences. Besides, there
arc?
Qth,?Internal influences, such as mental, and others. are so The two sets of influences, viz., internal and externa colligated, through the medium of the nervous system, that a change in the external nature must, as a matter of course,
corresponding changc in the internal nature of man. were not provided with a nervous surface to ] lis body, external changes might be communicated to his nervecentres, through the medium of the inter-atomic ether. It is true that external changes induce internal ones, but the nervous system, which acts as the link between the two, is in many instances able to balance the two natures by adapting the internal movements of the organism to the external ones, and thus resisting or neutralizing any bad effects which might result from the latter. On the contrary, when the nervous system, produce
Even if
a
man
because of circumstances under which it may at the moment docs not balance the two sets of movements, disease is the result, f
be,
*
on
Has the mechauical motion of the earth round its axis any influence beyond what may result from exposure of different sides to the
man, sun ?
t The following, although apparently a digression from my main subject, is of too much importance to the welfare of man to be left undiscussed here. " The
equation of animal and vegetable life is too complicated a problem for human intelligence to solve, and we can never know how wide a circle of disturbance we produce in the harmonies of nature when we throw the smallest pebble into the ocean of organic life" (Marsh's " Man and Nature," p. 103.) The atmosphere and its elements are limited ; nature left alone balances exactly the animal and vegetable life on the earth. Man comes and multiplies. His wants urge him to become a great disturber of nature. For instance, he cuts down immense tracts of forest, by which he diminishes the reproduction of oxygen, and at the same time he multiplies himself and all his domestic animals, thereby increasing the disappearance of oxygen, and the reproduction of carbonic acid. So that cutting down large tracts of forest for the purpose of colonization, &c., acts directly and indirectly in lessening the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere, until the balance is somehow restored. Many have had experience of the necessity of balancing accurately the vegetable and animal life in an aquarium, where the water which acts
as
a
medium between the two is limited.
(Some time after I had written this note, I read in the Gazette of India, No. 49, p. 637, para. 6, the fallowing which is worth knowing : "The Commissioner of
Chutteesligur (Major Nembhard) has now, in an interesting report, brought prominently to notice the treelessness of and he has also expressed his opinion that the excesthe Itaepore plain ;
sive violence with which epidemic cholera rages, when it visits the Chutteesgurh plateau, is in part due to the utter absence of foliage which, acting on the atmosphere, might absorb some of the more noxious gases, and might exhale pure oxygen. This theory Major Nembhard
supports
by giving a detailed account of his observations in the wooded and in the treeless portions of Chutteesgurh. The experience of the Peshawur cantonment gives some ground for believing that Major Nembhard's belief, as to the salutary influence of trees, is not without foundation. Dr. S. C. Townsend, Civil Surgeon, Nagpore, who has had some experience in Northern India, considers that the theory, though as yet insufficiently established, is still well founded, and he believes that further observation will confirm it."
Major Nembhard states that on tjjo treeless plain in Chutteesgurh, cholera visitations are very frequent. In the intermediate space between the treeless plain and the forest, where the trees are sparse and
stunted,
[February 1,
1867.
ot the cholera only occasionally visits the villages, and in the villages " this is ? forest the disease is scarcely known, lie further states that careful fact of which I have satisfied myself by close observation and I have verified it enquiry during my recent circuit through the division ; till not a shadow of doubt could remain in my mind." The fact of the simultaneous presence of trees, and absence of cholera in Cliutteesgurh, although worth knowing, is not' conclusive, unless similar conditions in other places present the same phenomenon. That trees play a great part in the changes which concur to render animal life healthy or diseased, there can be scarcely any doubt, but we are hardly justified in inferring that only the oxygen which leaves give out is the factor in maintaining health. Prom their form, trees must play an important part
phenomena of radiation, and in those of electricity and magnetism. improbable that, by their dynamic agency, they modify the conditions necessary for the development of cholera). Some might object to take the foregoing into consideration, and say that as yet chemical analysis has not discovered any material differences in the composition of the atmosphere. Granted; but does man presume to possess, at present, means sufficiently accurate to indicate to him all the changes which are possible in the atmosphere ? Is it not possible that there are various allotropic states of the atmospheric constituents which we have not yet detected ? Ozone is comparatively a late discover}', and at some future period some other constituent may possibly come to our knowledge which will account for the apparent equi-composition of the atmosphere in different places. Moreover, thS clearing of forest exposes a large tract of the earth's surface to the direct rays of the sun, thereby disturbing the thermo-electricity of the earth. I think it is in
in the
It may not be
this condition of our earth that we are more likely to discover some connection with the prevalence of disease, viz., the thcrmo-electro-magnetic disturbances of certain parts of the earth dependent on the influence of the sun acting on certain soils, and modified by the covering of trees, &c.
argued that, although man clears forests, he plants the same with cultivated plants, such as wheat, rice, &c. Yes; but leaving out of consideration that different plants may have different dynamic and material effects on the atmosphere, the bulk of his cultivated plants are annuals, and consequently leave the ground tenantless at certain seasons,
It may be area
while trees are more or less permanent balancing machines. Take for instance India. One sees large tracts of land in certain seasons, covered ?with crops, without a single tree. "When these crops are cut, and the hot weather comes, all tho cropped land is exposed to the direct rays of the sun, which must more or less disturb the thermo-electricity of the earth. The singular feature of the case in India is that cultivators do not want trees near their fields, because, they sav. all the ground which is shaded by the trees is lost to them as ground for raising crops ! True, but let us examine whether this argument may not be a very fallacious one, and let us endeavour to ascertain what the cultivator's ultimate gain is, and what his loss. ]*
