Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1832-11-12
From n. Ivfnetster Rcpn5lieea.

Pure soid-We pause for moment, even in the
rush and heat OF the political battle, 10 pay trib-
ntc TO genius. The following thrilling & sr'lendid
language is taken from letter written by SAMUEL
B. SMITH surgeon in the United States army at Fort
Armstrong, to Capt Wilson, and published in the
Intelligcncei. Tie is describing the appearance of
a soldier who died Of cholera and commenting on
tina, fearful plague
" The face was sunken, as if wasted BY lnger
ing consumption; perfectly angular, and rendered
peculiarly CHASTITY by the complete removal Of all
the soft solids, and their places supplied by dark
lead colorcd lines the hands and feet were blush
white, wrinkled as when long maccra,ed in cold
water the eyes had fallen to the bottom Of their
orbs and evnced glaring vitality, but without
mobility and the surface ofthe body was cold and
believed with an eely oxidation. stood gazing in
mute horror upon the rcv citing object, when sud
den spasm CONFUSING his limbs caused him to
scrcech in voice so unearthly that involuntarily
covered my ears with my hands The strongest
stimuli, both externally aud internally applied for
several hours, made 10 Impression upon hun, and
he expired in the fifth hour.
In tho succeeding fifty hours, many men were
removed in manner equally distressing 1t
would be needless 20 enuetate all the probable and
possible remedies that were increasingly employed,
in vain, for their relief. They were as water pour
cd upon the sand. had Witnessed expiring nature
in almost every form, bit had hitherto been sustain
ed by the beliefthat my profession was a lofty IN
telligence, inadequate only from some neglected
counteracting forces but here all selt-suhioency
was utterly subdued the throne of science was
cast down. A dark spirit, adverse to human life,
had gained admission to the Utmost place, and with
malign Joy dissipatcd with productivity known
only to demons heart, all that had been given 10
man, by bountfui Creator, to exprcos u ncarness
to himself
"With deeply castigated spirit pondered in SOL
itude over this supcrhuman calamity. II was EVIL
dent that all the great functions were overcome -
The lungs generated no animal heat, the liver Sc
GREETED TO bile; the stomach no gastrcs; the kid
neys 70 salt the brain no nervous fluid whilst
the exhalants ofthe great vcnta cavity poured on,
| life as from a mighty fountain! Whence this ex-
cessve exudation? 1t can only be the grand con-
stituents of the blood-soda aud fabrina The heat
tcctly essays last onward impulse, and the MUS
cles, like dying worms, wreathe upon themselves
| but both are mere convulsve movements from the
Withdrawal Of their accustomed supplies from the
blood How impotcnt are all efforts to re-cfeate
this vital nud when the great in,elgences allotted
! for its elaboration are Guesccnt ! WIN the com
| hna,ion of salt and water be a kind substitute for
this beautiful compound, resulting from t'e haFh-
NOUS operation Of many systems Surety not
| vii! We take the same fluid nom him who can
spare il, and transfise it into him who is destitute
Even this is hopeless for no two beings accord Sc
nearly as to make the blood Of one acceptable to
vessels unconcerned in its formation THIS dec
trinc once admitted, perpetual teFrene existence
would no longer be a physical inposs'b'lity
q Thou shalt surely die, has been pronounced by
Him who controls all des,inies, aud one heart aont
must struggle asa.ns. slc antirng agents pfo7idct