Abstract
THE fifty-fourth meeting of the Association of German Naturalists and Physicians was held at Salzburg on September 18–24. The number of Members and Associates in attendance was 760. There were also present Foreign Members from Switzerland, the Netherlands, Russia, Denmark, and Japan. The first general meeting, on Sunday, September 18, was opened by the First Secretary, Dr. Günthner (Salzburg), who in his hearty address of welcome mentioned the fact that Salzburg was the last retirement of the celebrated physician and naturalist, Theophrastus Paracelsus. After short addresses given by the Governor and Burgomaster, Prof. Pettenkofer (Munich) read a paper “On the Soil and its Connection with the Health of Man.” He pointed out that it was previously believed that the state of the air and water exeris an important influence upon the origin and propagation of epidemics, but this view could not be proved by experiments recently made. The contamination of air and water is caused by products of decomposition of bodies putrefying on or in the soil. The progress of epidemic diseases, especially of cholera, is influenced mainly by the soil. The immunity of special localities against cholera is shown by the example of Lyons, which, notwithstanding communication with infected places, remained free from cholera, though filtered Rhone water was used there, Versailles and Salzburg also were exempt from this disease. It is now generally assumed that cholera is due to the action of schizomycetes, which develop at localities where the soil is impregnated with decomposing organic bodies. The contamination is drawn up by diffusion through the porous soil into the interior of houses, where it becomes dangerous to the health of man.
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The German Association . Nature 24, 543 (1881). https://doi.org/10.1038/024543a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/024543a0