The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-08-22
REPORT OF CONSULTING PHYSI-
CLANS IN BOSTON

/ The Consulting Physicians, having reason to
believe that errors exist, in the minds of MANY
! persons, in regard TO the means of preventing
Cholera, have awaited themselves Of meetin1
called for other purposes. at the request of the
Health Commissioners of the Middle Dist rct,
TO express their opinion on the points alluded
to. They perform this duty with some hesi,a
ton, lest they should be thought TO obtrude
their opinions masked
]. Use Of PeeetabirS. There seems To exis,
belief that vegetables should be abstained
from during the existence o. the epidemic dis.
position to cholera The consulting physicians
IN their first punlic report. advised their fellow
citizens 10 abstain from all uncooked veqe,a
hleS, such cucumbers, and all salads They
dId not advise abstinence from vegela. les. when
OF good quality, aud properly cooked. These.
on the contrary, they recommend, as a salntary
provision of nature. at this season, to cool and
regulate the digestive system.
2. Ripe FrultS similar error prevails as
TO fruits This board are aware that the use OF
fruit has been wholly prescribed by some writ.
ers on the subject of cholera 70 This ininnc.
ton they cannot assent. They believe that
moderate use Of nu- own ripe fruit is one Of the
means o! prevention, by removing that state Of
the digestive organs which would disorder the
secretIons Of those organs, and thus prepare
them for disease. Ii may be stated, as gener-
al truth, that the exciting cause Of the euidem.
&c more frequently lies in an improper quality
OF food, than in any peculiar quality, although
the quality should by no means be regarded
with Indifference.
8. Use Of Spirits 10 pre0eRt Ch0iera A no.
ton has been taken up by some individuals,
among the vol informed part of the communi-
ty, that moderate use Of stimulants, such as
wine, aud even brandy is beneficial as pre-
ventive oil Cholera and not only has the opin.
ION been adopted but practical application of
II has been made Ivy habtual spirit drinkers. TO
a great extent. Tie origin of these errors has
been attributed to the advice of a Southern phy.
slcIan; and some persons have inlima ted sus
plcion that they have arisen, in part, from the
direction OF this board to use brandy and water
as vehicle Tor giving laudanum, in the case Of
violent and sudden attack Of cholera, before the
advice OF ply stefan could be obtained.
The opinion If this board is clearly that all
lands Of ardem spirits and other strong stimu
tantS are not uScfm in preventing the tholera
but that they dispose 10 its attack This opin
ION they mean To express in the most unOualjf.
ed manner; and they wish TO advise and to
warn all persons 10 ABSTAIN WHOLLY from
their use. Those who are accustomed to an in
temperate of ardent spirits and of wine.
may safely leave off these habits by attending
to the following cautions:
L. d'mlnsh their common 'ood consIdera'
bly, below the usual quantity and to lei it con.
sist of animal rather than vegetable substance.
light broth taken in small quantities, at short
intervals, is particularly proper.
2. To use q strong decocton of the vegetable
btters as substitute for alkohol-such for ex.
ample, as wOrmwood. chamomile, horehouudl,
southenwood, and fanny, The aromatic her BIS,
spearmint and peppermint. may suit some con-
stitutions more than the bitters Under the di
recton of physician, preparations of bark and
quinina may be advantageousIy employed for
the same purpose.
Signed, IJoHN C WARREN,
BENZ. SHURrLErF,
GEO. HAYWARD,
GEO. c, SHATTUcK,
JoHN RANDALL.