The Arkansas advocate., 1832-12-05

pression of countenanee; aerVous ire. mors; muscular weakness; cool skin: shortness of breath, and quick feeble pulse.
 Coplous evacuations upwards and downwards of fluid resembling dirty rice water soon occur, with cramps and 1 sPasms in the muscles of the neck, ex- tfemlties and abdomen. An aggraya. ton oi these symptoms rapidly takes place. and in an hour CT two the skin every where except immediately over the stomach, becomes icy cold, and covered with large drops of water. which collect as fast as they are remov. ed. The skin of the hands and feet is corrugated; the nails are blue; the tongue and breath very cold, and the appetenee for cold water insatiable.
 The skin around the eyes and at the roots of the nails becomes of dark col or, and this appearance gradually diff fuses itself (partaking of various shades ot liyldaess) over the whole surface.-
 fhefeatures shrink; the voice becomes lnaudible; and death takes place, ac- comPanied by indications of great pain and distress; the patient appearing to retain his consciousness 10 the last.
 Cholera disfgurcs its dead more than any other disorder known in this coun. try. il we consider the short short duration of it's attack. -ss
 Post mortem examination displays great congestion of blood in the parts adjacent to the stomach; the arteries ot course empty; the veins full and turgld; the lungs and brain unafect- cd as far as research, has yet extended. We have not been able to learn whcth- CT or not the heart exhibits any morbid appearance. Ii was determined, after examining the brain of one of the most malignant Cases, without discovering any morbid appearance, 10 examine the heart of the next subject;- since that time, however, {although the Hospital was full 10 oYer1owing) no patient has died, and consequently no opportunity of prosecuting the inquiry has occurred, .-or i've are happy 10 addl seems like ly 10 occor here.
 The Pathology of Cholera then is as follows. The venous congestion is the immediate cause of the symptoms; the atmospheric poison, admitted into the lungs and absorbed by the blood, has impaired its power 10 impart its usual stimulus to the heart. Languid action ot that organ ensues; the arteries as il consequence. carry less blood than usu- al; the remote parts of the body first feel the want of their accustomed sup ply; hence the coldncss of the skin; the languld, faltering, failing pulse, and all the train of symptoms above detail- ed, advancing rapidly from the extremi- ties upon the citadel of life: hence tho suppression of nature and healthy ac- tons and seeretions in succession until the enemy reaches the stomach; this organ possessing a higher degree of vi tailty than any other in the abdomen, its distention and consequent loss oftone and the influence which itexercises over the whole system by it's extensive sym pathies, render it's immediate restora- ton matter of the first importance and an indispensable first step in the modus medendi. It is through the me dium of the stomach, then, only, that we must hope to act upon the rest of the system; and our first step must be to prepare this organ for so important a duty.
 We must expei the black venous blood, excite contractions of the mus cular flores, and endeavor to restore arterlal action to it's accustomed supe- riority. What can fulfil these indica- tions but an emetic? And the choice of an emetic is of much consequence. Doctors Chapman and Hopkinson both recommend salt and water, and it is the only one that VIC have used. The contraction and evacuation of the sto- mach is not the only advantage derived from this medicine. Nothing in these cases excites the heart to action so cer. tainly as the retchingt that accompanies the act of vomiting. Antimonials and the other relaxing emetics would fail to accomplish this object. Thus the pulse is restored, the irritability of the sto. mach in great degree relieved, and the grand objects ofthe first remedy ac- complished. If the first tumbler of sali and water fail to produce vomiting, lei a second and third be speedily given: for if this medicine fails to operate, the case is desperate.
 Immediately after the operation ol l iha nmefic z tuenfu srrains nf cainran]