epithelial layer of the intestinal mucous membrane was either entirely re- 

 moved, or was detached, adhering loosely. This important fact— the most 

 important, perhaps, in the mechanism of cholera — was confirmed seven- 

 teen years later by the eminent pathologist Dr. Lionel S. Beale, of London, 

 Eng., who, referring to the remarkable character of the intestinal dis- 

 charges and the matter found in the small intestines, added, "This has 

 been proved to consist entirely of columnar epithelium, and in very many 

 cases large flakes can be found consisting of several uninjured epithelial 

 sheaths of the villi. In bad cases it is probable that almost every villus, 

 from the pylorus to the ilio-canal valve, has been stripped of its epithelial 

 coating during life. These important organs (the villi) are, in a very bad 

 case, all or nearly all left bare, and a very essential part of what consti- 

 tutes the absorbing apparatus is completely destroyed. It is probable that 

 the extent of this process of denudation determines the severity or mild- 

 ness of the attack." 



In 1849 Dr. John Snow, of London, in investigating some circumscribed 

 outbreaks of cholera in Harsleydown, Wandsworth, and other places, came 

 to the conclusion that, in these instances, the disease arose from cholera 

 evacuations finding their way into the drinking-water. Subsequent inves- 

 tigations in London, and in particular one conducted in 1854 by a com- 

 mittee appointed for that purpose, and in whose labors the never-to-be- 

 forgotten Broad-street pump figured conspicuously, left no room for doubt 

 that cholera could and had been spread, as Dr. Snow had pointed out, by 

 drinking water contaminated by cholera dejections. 



Dr. Snow's suggestions regarding the introduction of the poison of cho- 

 lera and other specific poisons into the human system by means of drink- 

 ing-water have not yet been appreciated, even by the medical profession, 

 at their proper value. The observations of Graves as to how cholera is 

 carried from place to place or from country to country; and of Snow as to 

 how the poison of cholera may be taken into the system by means of fouled 

 drinking-water, in view of the fact that their correctness has been corrobo- 

 rated, ought to have greater weight generally with physicians and all intel- 

 ligent persons than they have had up to the present time. For physicians 

 the observations of Ilarner, Jackson, Neill, Pepper, and (ioddard, corrobo- 

 rated by the more detailed and complete observations of Beale in respect 

 of the effect of cholera poison upon the alimentary canal, have, I believe, 

 a much greater practical value for their guidance, both in preventing and 

 curing cholera, than has yet been attached to them. 



Mr. Moore exhibited a map of St. Louis showing the districts 

 in which deaths from cholera had occurred in 1S66. 



On proper motion, the Academy adjourned till the third Mon- 

 day in October. 



