Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-06-09

expression OF face. who was perfectly c0ld-lips,
limbs. body and all. The other was younger.
and locked as il she had died in pain. Her eyes
appeared as if they had been forced half out OF
the sockets, and her skin was Of the most livId
and deathly purple. The woman in the next bed
told me she had died since the Sour de Charlie
had been there. 1t is horrible TO think how these
poor creatures may suffer in the very midst OF
the provisions that are made professedy for their
relief. asked why simple prescription might
not be drawn up by the physicians. and admins
tered by the numerous medical students who were
in Paris, that as few as possible might suffer from
chiet physicians must do every thing personally.
to study the complaint" And so, | verify be-
eve, more human lives are sacrificed in waiting
for experiments, than ever will be saved by the
results. My blood boiled from the beginning to
the end Of this melancholy visit.
wandered about alone among the beds till my
heart was sick, and could bear it no longer;
and then rejoined my friend, who was in the
train Of one Of the physicians, making the rounds.
One would think that dying person should be
treated with kindness. never saw arougber or
more heartiess manner than that Of the celebrat-
ed DR.. -, at the bedsides of these poor crea-
lures. A harsh question: rude pulling open of the
mouth. to look at the tongue, sentence or two OF
unsurpassed commands to the students on the
progress of the disease, and the train passed On.
Ii encouragement and despair are not nedl-
cines, should think the visits OF such physicians
were of little avail. The wretched sufferers
turned away their heads alter he had gone, IN ev-
cry instance that saw, with an expression OF
visibly increased distress. Several of them re-
fused to answer his questions altogether.
On reaching the bottom of the Sale 81. Mo.
nique. one of the male wards. heard loud voices
and laughter. had noticed much more groan-
ing and complaining in passing among the men,
and the horrible discordance struck me as some
thing Internal. Il proceeded from one of the
sides 10 which the patients had been removed who
were recovering. The most successful treat
ment had been found TO he punch, very strong.
w.,h out little ac.d, and being permitted TO drink
as much as they would, they had become partial
ly intoxicated. 1t was a iiendish sight, positive
ly. They were sitting up, and reaching from one
bed to the other, aud with their still palId faces
and blue lips. and the hospital dress OF white,
they looked like so many carousing corPses.
turned away from them in horror.
was stopped in the doorway by litter en-.
terine with sick woman They set her down
in the main passage between the beds, and left
her moment to find place for her. She seem
ed TO have an interval of pain. and rose up on
one hand, and looked about her very earnestly.
I followed the direction of her eyes, and could
easily imagine her sensations. Twenty or thirty
death-like faces were turned towards her from
the different beds, and the grOans of the dying
aud the distressed came from every side. She
was without friend whom she knew, sick OF
murtal disease. and abandoned to the mercy OF
those whose kindness is merccnary and habltua,
and Of course without sympathy OF feeling
Was it not enough alone, if she had been far less
ill., to embitter the very fountain life and kill her
with mere fright and horror She sank down
upon the litter again, and drew her shawl over her
head had seen enough of suffering, and LETT
the place.
On reaching the lower staircase, my friend
proposed to me to look into the dead room. We
descended to large dark apartment, below the
street level, lighted by lamp fixed to the wall.
Sixty or seventy bodies lay on the floor, some OF
them quite uncovered, and some wrapped IN mats.
could not see distinctly enough by the dim light
to Judge of their discoloralion. They appeared
mostly old and emaciated.
| cannot describe the sensation OF relief with
with breathsd the free air once'mor l had no
fear of the cholera. but the suffering and misery
had seen oppressed and half smothered me. -
Every one who has walked through hospital,
will remember how natural It is to subdue the
breath and close the nostrils 70 the smells OF me-
dcine and the close air. The fact, too, that the
question of contagion is still disputed, though
fully believe the cholera not tn be contagious.
might have had some effect. My breast heaved,
however, as if weight had arisen from Imy
lungs, and l walked home, blessing God for
health with undssemb gratitude
P.S. began this account OF my visit 10 me
Iloia Dieu Yesterday. As am perfectly wei
this morning. think the point Of nom ontaglon'
in inv own case at least, is clear. lbreathed the
same air with the dying and the diseased Tor Two
hours, and felt of nearly hundred, to be salts
fed of the curious phenomena OF vital heat
Perhaps an experiment Of this sort IN man no,
professionally physician, may be considered ,'!I
rash or useless; and would not willingly De
thought to have done it from Puerile curiosity.
have been interested in such subjects Always
and I considered the fact that the Kings soas had
been permitted to visit the hospital, suif'c'eht
assurance that the physicians were seriously con,
y;nced there could be no possible danger. II
need any apology. it may be found in this
Ne,c York Mirror.