INFECTION. 131 



While the nature of this disease is still a matter of grave discus- 

 sion, all authors unite in looking upon it as malignantly infectious, 

 still the greater majority deny that it is also a contagious disease. 



Like Texas fever, the yellow fever is confined to localities, upon 

 moist regions, and a hot climate for its generation. By south and 

 west winds its ravages extend, while the cooler winds of the north 

 and east seem to check them ; and in a northern climate it does 

 not prevail, or dies out of itself. The same is the case with regard 

 to Texas fever : the famous " northers " of the Texas plains having 

 the influence of checking or putting an end to its ravages, and it 

 dies a natural death in a northern climate. 



The yellow fever, again, takes a milder or latent form among 

 people indigenous, acclimatized to the climate and telluric influence, 

 as does Texas fever among cattle ; some races, as the negro, are said 

 to be almost exempt from its ravages. 



Naturalized persons, once having had the yellow fever, acquire a 

 certain degree of immunity from a second attack, which they lose, 

 however, if they leave such regions for a time and then return to 

 them. 



Our " report " does not tell us whether Texan or naturalized 

 cattle acquire such an immunity from second attacks of the Texas 

 pest. Provided susceptibility to infection exists, the inficieus of 

 yellow fever enters the human organism and causes the disease. 

 They are said not to reproduce themselves (?) in the infected organ- 

 ism, but to act directly ; they do not pass from one organism to 

 another — contagion. 



They retain, however, their infecting power a long time, when 

 once infesting a vehicle, and are highly transportable, either by 

 means of the sick, or ships, etc. 



Our National Board of Health has given a great deal of attention 

 to this disease, and reports that it is a locally-generated infection, 

 and looks upon the inficieus as some at present unknown form of 

 bacterial life, which it hopes yet to discover, and then to be able to 

 prevent its action. 



This Texas fever exactly corresponds to the above, and it is no 

 less the duty of our Government to spend time and money in search- 

 ing for its cause, than it is to study the same with regard to yellow 

 fever. 



Gamgee says the disease " is not infectious, in the strictest sense 

 of the term.''' 1 We assert the contrary, and will quote his own testi- 

 mony in proof of our assertion, and to show the utter fallacy of his 

 words, which will sufficiently indicate the weakness of his report. On 



