Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-02-24

November. 1890, at distance Of about three or
four miles frcm the town. ~,
The prevailing Winds were from the land. Ma
nv of the officers and boats crews went daily Oh
shore, and the idea Of contagion had been gene
"a lly abandoned. Instances were related 10 US VI
tn natives having, in the violence OF their rage
against strangers, taken Europeans who were "e,''
and confined them for hours IN contact win the
diving. in order TO communicate TO them the us
ease, and as they supposed to relieve the SICK
From other barbarities which they committed, this
does not seem improbable; but even that expe-
dent. and all others, failed to establish the opl
Mon of its contagious nature.
Its appearance at Manila ha4 been preceded ny
a paIe. and an inundation of the low land by the
sea, which had left, upon retiring, great quan-
tlty of slimy matter and anluna'cule on the waste
lands along the shore. near the city. by the ex-
posture of these to the sun, the atmosphere was
sensibly vitiated, and Occasloned IN some ihstah.
ces sensation Of nausea in respiration, 50 tna'
officers who extended their walks far, were obllg-
ed to return and go on board. The night air al
this season was humid and chilly
The disease, we were told, had been much
more prevalent in the suburbs than within the
walls OF the city.
The first case which occurred in the Congress
was ON the Cd December. r. Dunn, seaman,
so years of age, had not been on shore-had long
been i'll with dysentery-suddenly became much
worse-was seized with vomiting and spasms OF
the muscles of the toes-these gradually extend
ed to the larger muscles Of the lower extremities,
and finally became general.
His pulse sunk rapidly, and in few hours the
spasms and vomitings ceased. He was then great
" exhausted. and nothing relieved his debility
He very soon expired.
Our next case was on the Sd December The
coxwan OF a boat, strong healthy man, was ia
ken with burning pain IN the epigastrium. insa-
table thirst, and, at intervals of about half an
hour, severe vomitings and OBJECTIONS. The dis
charge from the stomach was the thin fluid so
frequently described These were accompanied
by violent contractons of the muscles of the feet,
legs, and thighs, which soon extended to other
parts The intervals of relief only lasted for a
short time, and the violence of the disease about
six hours. The patient was then left free from
pain, but extremely exhausted, like one in the
last stage of lyphus fever, and survived but few
hours.
On the 4h another case occurred. and in the
evening we weighed anchor and came to in the
mouth Of the harbor.
Early on the morning of the 5th we pat to sea.
and IN the course of the day had six cases OF the
very worst character. The bOatswain and three
others lived but few hours; two survived till
next dav. On examination, after death, we found
in the upper lntestines pale ~atery fluid. and
light cream coored substance, of the oOnsistence
of cOagulum. No bile was poured out into the
duodenum. which, with the adj acent parts, SEEM
ed much inhamed; numerous small red vessels
were apparent, as if filled by fine injection, -
The gall bladder in one case was filled with fluid
resembling moIasses. The liver and venous sys-
tenn were surcharged with blood, thin, and very
dark. and in no Ease coagulated The claims of
the sick to our attention cailed.fo all our time,
and we could not make so many nor such minute
investigations as were desirable. Several who
were sick Of other complaints, and who were
slightly affected with mercury, escaped an at
tack.
Some fatal cases occurred daily until the 9th,
when it abated and became much mider. From
this to the 9th we lost but two men.
After crossing the China sea, and coming in
sight of the low and marshy coast of Sumatra, to
pass the narrow Strait OF Banca, we met with fire.
quent Gains, heavy dews at night. and morning
fogs. Here the Cholera returned with its former
maIignity, nor did it leave us until some days az
ter we had passed the Straits. We boarded the
Dutch squadron in the mouth of PaIambang Ri
yer. and were tOln tney nau also suHeteu much
by the Cholera. The worst cases we had were
those that happened Immediately after leaving
Manila, and about the Straits of Banca. Dur
ing the month of December we lost upwards of
thirty men.
Of forty officers in the ward-room and gun
room. only one IA midshipman) had the disease,
and he but mildly.
With regard to tho etiology of the disease, no
facts came to our knowledge which favored the
superstition of its con'asiousness. To it SEEM
ed as much an atmospheric disease as yellow fe-
yer or influenza. Whether the cause operates
primarily on the blood or the nerves, it would be
in the present state Of our knowledge, fruitess
to conjecture
The symptoms were.-1st. numbness OF the ex-
tremties; Cd. vertigo; Sd, pain in the ePigastri-
um; 4th, hollow eye and shrunken features OF the
face; 5th, spasms; 9th, vomitings and OBJECTIONS;
9TH, great prostration of strength; 9th, cold ex-
tremities and loss Of pulse; 9th, dark liyid skin
and cold clammy sweats.
In the case of John Brown, who died the day
after we passed the straits of Banca on the goth
December, every muscle seemed contracted to
the utmost degree, and did not relax during