Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-07-13


tat least, before this calamity overtakes oul
city. | am, very truly,
w. G. RHiNELANDER.
@. ID. STRONG, Esq.
The following letter was addressed to
the Editor ofthe Standard:
To John |. Mumford, Esq.
Sunday afternoon, lst July, 1892
Dear Sir-You have requested my opin-
ion upon the prevailing epidemic, and the
hest means Of preventing its attack, and also
the remedies 10 be employed.
This disease is epidemic; il is atmospher-
ic, and appears 10 obey the same laws as In
fuenza. Many physicians think il conta-
gious, but In Its recent appearance in Cana
da, could not find any facts 10 support this
doctrine, Every person in those provinces
was affected by the same premonitory symp
toms, viz pain in the region of The stomach
"a burning sensation in the bowels, and a
fulness or expansion of the abdomen. These
were universal and may safely say moi one
person escaped them. II, then, this disorder
were contagious. how comes it that these
sensations were general in persons W no were
twenty miles distant from the disease, and
who had not even heard of it? Contagion
has never extended its power TO such dis
lance; besides, how can we account for its
appearance in Montreal before navigation
was open? We can impute it to no other
cause than this, that easterly winds blew
constantly for forty days towards Quebec
and consequently the tainted atmosphere OF
Europe arrived at our shores
! The question most interesting 10 us is.
shall we be visited by this disorder? Ii is
my decided opinion that il is noyv in orr city,
and from Two cases which have this day in
( spected in James street, The question is pla-
ced beyond dispute. think it cannot be a
cause of serious alarm 10 our citizens, for il
we look TO England and other places, we
| find that where preparations were made, the
malddy was disarmed of itsgreat powers. 1t
is very consoling fact, that this disease is
not contagious, for it will not prevent those
kind Offices which the sick so urgently re-
quire No one need be afraid of apprc ach-
ing his sick friend, and rendering him these
services which may be demanded Besides
this, the fact OF lis being non contao ious, di-
vests us OF fear, which in my opinion has been
the cause of many deaths. A perfect heed
leSSness ofthe disease is the greatest security.
w hat are the best means of preventing the
attack: would say entire abstinence from
Spurious liquor, using Port wine in modera-
sinking occur avoid all green vegetables.
and unripe fruits, which are exciting causes (;
keep from the streets during the heat of The
day, and never walk in the sun without an
umbrella and above all, avoid crowds and
impure atmospheres. Let the clothing. he
flannel, TO keep up an action upon the skin
and LET belt of the same material be worn.
Temperance in every shape is the great
preventive. We may ask who are its vic
! inns. answer the intemperdte-it .inyari-
ably cuts them off
! II is a mistaken notion that stimuIous is
Necessary; wine may and does do service.
while we are under the influence of this poi
sonous atmosphere but spurious liquors as
a preventive, always do harm, and hurry the
drinker TO his fate. Early hours are inn
portant for the exposure TO the night air
generally brings on the attacks Persons
are taken more often at night than during the
day.
What are the remedesi Bleeding is tbe
best in the first stage-that is, when nau-
sea and diarrhGa are present, hut when col
lapse comes on, when the skin is cold
with clammy sweats, and the face blue. the
eye sunken, and the eXtremilies lose all cir
cuIation, il is fatal. In this stage give ether
and laudanum, apply mustard pouItices 10
the eXtremities and stomach or what is let
ter, dry friction, with chalk or hot bran 49,
Brandy may be given in small quantities
with spirits OF ammonia or ether When
perspiration ensues, and The pulse rises, with
a natural expression Of the conference
The patient may be said 10 be convaesceDt
/ The tongue in The first stage is, 10 use
the expression Of DIR. Dekay, opalescent
or transparent, of a milky blueness
in the second stage it is covered by fur,
white or brown, as the disease progresses,
Cramps are not essential 10 the disease and
| physicians are often deceived in deciding nm.
on The patient when these are absent
have thus written a few hastv remark
but they are all derived from our obseryation
during my visit 10 Canada They are Inn
perfect, but as they are free from all nedi-
clna technicalities, trust they may be ser
yiceabIe to our fellow citizens.
Your friend and servant.
}. r. RHINELANDER.
There is no longer any question as to
the existence Of the dreaded Cholera
IN ITS highest form of malignity. There
have been several cases to-day some Of
which have already terminated fatally.
It has broken out in the Almshouse at
Bellevue, and one death is officially re.
ported.
Connected with the AImsbouse is the