Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-06-21


paid to cleanliness, our streets, lanes,
sinks, sewers and cisterns, should be
kept free from filth; and our houses in
addition to being kept thoroughly clean,
should be freely ventilated; in short,
immediate care should be taken to re-
move all foul and fcrmenting matter
which, by its decomposition and diffusion
in the atmosphere, tends to produce con-
tagious diseases in its vicinity or renders
the system more susceptible to the ac-
tlon OF contagious originated in other
places, and accidentally brought within
the sphere of persons thus predisposed to
their influence. | am aware that by
some Physicians, Asiatic Cholera is
thought to be non-contagious, while
others have asserted that it is contag Q ous
in very high degree. No doubt there
is contradictory and affirmative evidence
on either side Of this important question,
and that it is difficult point to deter
mine; but from the testimony hitherto
collected on this subject, ] am inclined
to believe, that with this, as with
yellow fever, the truth lies between the
two opinions, and that it will ultimately
be found that a person affected with
cholera will communicate it to his atten-
dants and neighbors, provided they are
constitutionally predisposed to it, and the
state of the atmosphere and other ex-
traneous incidental circumstances favour
its diffusion. On the contrary, should a
case occur in pure and healthy neigh
borhood, where there is a free circula-
tlon Of air, and where the attendants and
neighbors are fortified against its at
tacks by vigorous health and wholesome
nourishment, | think we may safely
calculate that it will not be communca-
ted. However, the case may be, cer-
tain it is that prudence admonshes us to
be on the alert, and experience has es-
tablished the Importance of carefully
avoiding its exciting or predisposing
causes, of paying the strlctest attention
to Its primary symptoms, and Of procur-
ing assistance before it is completely
established, for if the system be suffered
to come under the influence of the last
part Of the second or commencement Of
the third stage of the disease, medical
aid has almost uniformly proved abor-
tive; whereas if it be attacked at the
very threshold with judicious remedies,
perseverngly applied, we have no doubt
that its attendant miseries may be al
ways greatly alleviated and its fatality
frequently prevented.
i The preventive measures which have
proved most eifectual in warding off rs
attacks in other places, are the follow
ing:
LIST. We should carefully avoid taking
cold, either by Remaining in cold, damp
situations, or by exposure to sudden
transitions of temperature.
Cd: We should avoid fermented
liquors, ellcrvescing and acid drinks, all
kinds Of cycesses, and especially the
drinking cold water when in a state of
perspiration, or Of iced water at any
time.
Sd. Raw fruits and cold vegetables,
and especially such'a as tend to produce
flatulence and derange the healthy ac-
tions of the stomach and bowels, should
be carefully abstained from, and so also
should Holsters, eeis, crabs, cheese, and
especially rancid lard and butter.
4th. Rich gravies, sour milk and
cream, ice in any form, salads. smoked
meats OF fish, onions, cncumbers with or
without vinegar, radishes, cabbage and
mushrooms, are found to be injurious, as
they predispose to an attack.
9th. Crowded apartments and dcpres-
sing passions, as fear, anger, sorrow,
SC. are to be avoided.
i In order that we may be timely ap-
prsed of the approach OF danger, and
thereby be enabled to guard against a
dangerous delay, we must pay strict at
tention to the first symptoms Of Cholera,
and never permit delusive hope that
such precursors are not the disease, and
that they will subsde, to prevent us from
timely applications for assistance. The
remedies requisite in the first stages of
the cholera can do no serious injury, ifI
the symptoms for which they are applied
do not in reality prove to be those of that
disease, and they are, then this timely
application may be the only medium be-
tween rapid recovery and a painful
and sddden DEATH
/ The primary symptoms Of this disease
and which should be carefully attended
to, are, slight pain or une easiness at the
pit of the stomach, loss of appetite,
sudden prostration Of strength, general
coldness of the body, a contracted
/ ghastly countenance, blueness of the
lips and nails, and sometimes of the
whole surface which appears shrunk
nausea attended with diarrhm or ten
dency TO diarrh9, a slight pain in the
head, alternate heat, and chiliness, to-
gether with a sense of heayiness in the