Observations on the laws governing the communication of contagious diseases, and the means of arresting their progress. [Read before the Literary and Philosophical Society of New-York, on the 9th of June, 1814.] / [David Hosack].

  • David Hosack
Date:
1815
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the laws governing the communication of contagious diseases, and the means of arresting their progress. [Read before the Literary and Philosophical Society of New-York, on the 9th of June, 1814.] / [David Hosack]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    well-ascertained, facts, naturally lead us to inquire into the action of the oxygenated muriatic acid, in correcting the putrid effluvia, u It is now well known, that almost all the putrid smells disengaged by putrifying sub¬ stances, are owing to the extrication of inflammable air, or hydrogen gas, loaded with some or all of the three following substances, sulphur, phosphorus, or ammonia ; and these substances do not give out any very disagreeable smell, except when dissolved in hydrogen gas; but in that state we know the smell to be very unpleasant. “ Sulphurated hydrogen gas, or hepatic air, smells very disagreeably ; but the hydrogen gas in which phosphorus has been dissolved, often smells most intolerably, resembling the refuse of blubber. The superabundant oxygen of the muriatic acid, unites with the hydrogen, and forms water; and the sulphur and phosphorus being no longer in a state of solution, become concrete, and the bad smell disappears. “ Though it is not yet proved, it seems very likely, from the experiments of Mr. Wall, and others, that the effluvia from the human body communicating infection, is hydrogen gas, charged with some animal substances. “ Is it not natural, from analogy, to conclude, that if these were deprived of their solubility in hydrogen gas, they would become innocent? and may we not reasonably suppose, that the oxygenated muriatic gas will deprive them, as well as other putrid effluvia, of their solubility ? “ It certainly, I think, deserves a trial, which may be made at a very small expense, in the following manner. “ Take an ounce of the black oxyd of manganese in powder, and mix with it a quarter m- jk '1 v 4 of a pound of common salt; put this mixture into an earthen vessel, and place it upon a chafing dish of coals in the room where the person labours under an infectious complaint; then pour upon it two ounces of sulphuric (vitriolic) acid, diluted with the same quantity of water. “ Oxygenated muriatic acid gas will be instantly disengaged, and perceived in all parts of the room, and will at least destroy any putrid or offensive smell; and I am inclined to hope, that it will likewise correct the contagious effluvia. a When this gas is extricated in too great quantity, it will excite a cough; but I think that will not be the case with the quantity I have mentioned; if it should, a less por¬ tion must be used, or the mixture may be made without heat; but we know that bleachers are continually inhaling this gas in considerable quantity, without any disagreeable con¬ sequences. I should think there could be no difficulty in doing it in the house of any poor person; but it certainly might be very easily done in a fever-ward.’*
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