An inquiry into the propagation of contagious poisons, by the atmosphere

by Somerville Scott Alison

The poison is said to diffuse itself in the air of the apartment; hence it is believed, that entering into the apartment is tantamount to destruction, or at least, is nothing less than exposure to an influence of the most virulent and deadly quality.

It does not at the time signify to the attendants, the evidence on which the doctrine rests. It is believed, and that is enough to cause the most baneful effects upon the spirits, to inspire the worst apprehensions, and has also, as is well known, produced those very effects they had feared from its operation, has caused the increase of disease, nay, death itself, and that not on one occasion only, but on many.

The most common causes of Pestilence, Plague, Putrid and low Fevers, and Cholera, are mostly of a depressing nature, and, usually, the more they partake of that character, they are the more effectual in their operation. Famine is chiefly favourable to the sickness which is usually coincident with it, from the depressed and feeble state of body it produces; and an impure atmosphere is deleterious, chiefly from its allowing the body to become less energetic, by withholding that vigour and elasticity which the respiration of pure air imparts to the system at large, and thence to the mind.

These are powerful depressing causes, but not more so than fear, especially that kind that is deep and lasts long. Moral philosophers rank Fear as one of the most depressing passions, and its characteristics with the artist are paleness, contraction of the features, the best and surest indication of a weakened circulation (of blood) and diminution of vital power. The first are well aware of the hurtful influence it imparts to the whole body, and narrate instances, on excellent authority, where death, even immediate death, has been the consequence, where the brain has had its functions impaired, and thus imbecility induced; so that in short, they are accustomed to regard it as one of the most powerful agents, applied both to the mind and body.

The Medical Philosopher, too, has frequent occasion to mark the great depression of the powers of the body, the imperfect discharge of its functions, and the general exhaustion consequent upon the long continued operation of apprehension.

Be the apprehension of whatever nature, it is always detrimental—in a ratio too, proportionate to its intensity, and its other contingent circumstances. In the lesser degrees, it causes indigestion, flatus, loss of appetite, headach, and often general restlessness, with feelings of great discomfort.

It is found operating with great force, whether it arise from apprehension of damnation in respect to a future state, of ruin in a pecuniary point of view, or perhaps from what is most immediate and striking in its effects, of catching the infection of pestilential disease, which is the point with which we have most to do.

We have known many persons much affected with the fear of taking infection, and allowing this to prey upon their spirits, who were among the first attacked with pestilence; and if any weight is to be given to our knowledge of the probable causes of disease, there is great reason for concluding that those persons were the victims of their very fears, more than of any other causes of a prejudicial character. It is often impossible, with complete justice, to say decidedly that any one influence has been the exclusive cause of disease, when there is room to think there are, or may be many ready to operate; but, in many instances, the relation has been so immediate, and so striking between the known presence of depressing apprehension, and the supervention of sickness, that there is no room left to doubt the propriety of placing them in the relation of cause and effect. It must be familiar to many, quite a common occurrence, and one of which we heard constantly during the ravages of Cholera a few years ago, that persons took that disease from mere fright, and of the attack having been very much encouraged by its operation among the attendants, and more especially of those believing in the existence of the infectious nature of the disease.

These facts, it is thought, will prove that the doctrine of Atmospheric Contagion is calculated to excite much apprehension among the attendants and visitors of one sick of pestilence, and to shew in what manner that very apprehension is disposed to produce disease.

The attendant or visitor persuaded of the atmospherically contagious character of the disease, must possess considerable fortitude to venture at all into the presence of the patient, and even when once there, he must possess more than common hardihood, who does not feel more or less depressed with apprehension for that potent, and not the less imposing agent, because invisible, which, like a drawn sword, hangs over him, and threatens his existence.