Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1832-09-06


Was referred the communication OF your hon
orable Board, proposing certain queries, to
which an answer was requested, beg leave to
report the following answers So
Questioa 1. Whether the Malignant ChOl-
era, as it now exists in the city Of New ork,
can be prevented by sanitary or quarantine
regulations sosg ,a
From the limited period during which we
have had an opportunity of acquiring from
our own observ alton, a knowledge of the laws
which govern ihe Malignant Cholera. we are
reluctant to express an opinion upon this sub
ject. But inasmnch as thatadu Is eni0ined
anon as, we beg leave to say, that.many state
ments, apparently entitled to credit. have
been made, which go tn show that the disease
is transMissible from one place to another, by
persons affected with it. Until these facts
can be thoroughly investigated, the Council
are unwilling to put forth an opinion which
would be at variance with The great weight
OF medical authority on en- subject; at the
samestime, we feel bound to deciare Onr con-
viction, that no quaranfine regulations, hth-
erto employed Or known to us, have been, or,
we fear, ara likely to he effectual in excluding
the Malignant Cholera from any F0pulOns
town ar village on this continent.
Question g. When il comes, what are the
best means to mitigate its malignancy?
On the part of the authorities, the strictest
attention should be given to- the removal Of
al! the common causes of disease; all local
sources OF impure exhalations, such as priv
les, sinks, sewers. pools Of water, should be
cleansed: the dwellings Ofthe poor should be
thoroughly cleansed and whitewashed; they
should be prevented from congregating in
large Numbers; and crowded houses should
be emptied, and the inhabitants placed in
clean and airy situations; the sick should at
Once be removed to large and airy hospitals.
On the part of private individuals the mode
Of life should be strictly temperate, and no
excess should be INDUCED 10.
The food should be nutritious, simple. and
easy of digestion, and in sufficient quantities
to preserve a healthful yigor; any article Of
diet that is known to be easily susceptible of
fermentation in the stomach or bowels, should
be scrupulously avoided !; so readily is the d.
gestive process disturbed during the epidem-
ic prevalence Of Malignant Cholera, that with
%, no fruits or any other than simple farina.
ce0ils vegetables can be eaten With safety.
The destructive tendency Of the disease
may be further nlitigated, by the early dis
cosery and judicioas treatment such symp-
toms as are known 70 precede it, and give
warning Of its approach. These vary in de-
gree, but all evince. more or less disorder in (
the digestive organs. The nilder forms Of
Lhese premonitory symptoms are merely an |
ineasiness or pain in the bowels, accompa- |
MED sometimes with slight cramps, or dizzi- t
ness but aSlOoseness of the bowels or dar-
'h@a IS by Ear more common, and an almost
variable precursor Of the disease itself. 1t /
has been found with us, that this diarrhea is
accessibility treated By purgatves, and espe-
Tally by calOniel; and that it cannot be neg
ectsd without imminent danger-if neglect
ID, the Cholera is its usual sequel.
Question 8. When it comes, what are the
'est means to protect life against its attack
The disease is characterized by vomiting
md purging ola Auid almost colorless and in
,dorous, together with cramps or spasms OF
nc extrenties-the strength Of the PATIENTS
apidIy exhansted--a failure Of the natural
leat ct the body. and Of the circulation Of
he blood soon occurs, constituting the dan.
serous stage Of collapse. A striking feature
. the character Of this disease, is a complete
suspension Of many Of the secretions, especial
y of bile and urine.
" y 70 the first place important to allay the I
vomiting and spasms Of the stomach. 1.-THE |
suD|ect be Of q constitution not enfeebled by (
previous disease, or habitual inteinperance,
anti the pulse Is in condition to admit Of ii, |
general blood letting is found TO mitigate the
'pasms and render the system more suscep,i-
Die to the action the grand remedy, Mer-
.ury.. A large dose Of CalomeL alone or
combined with two grains Of Opium, IL the
ramps DC distressing, with the application Of
large sinaplsm over the region Of the stom-
zen, relieves vomiting, and, especially after
1iood-letting, sometimes arrests the disease.
!. fsrvescing draughts. small portions Of ice
cneweu and swallowed ,Or minute doses OF tinc- t
lure OF CamphOr quiet the stomach. The dose
81 Calomei should he repeated at Intervals Of
one, two Or three hours, until the colorless
excavations assume dark or bilious hue.--- |
IL the interim, lif the pulse become very fee !
be or the extremities cold, with sunken as
pect Of the eye,) frictions with rubefaciepts
should be employed 10 allay the cramps, and
means OF preserving the heat Of the extremi-
ties should be employed; for whichpOrpose.
bags OF hot sand answer the best purpose.
dry heat being found preferable 10 its comb.
nation with moisture. If the skin be cover
ed with copious clammy perspiraiion, hot
powdered chalk should be well rubbed oyer
the body. Ifthe pulse become feeble or the
cxtrenities cold. indicating the approach 81
the state Of collapse, much benefit has been
derived from rubbing the whole BODY, esDe.
cially the extremities. with an ointment com
posed of two parts Of strong mercnrial oint.
ment with one OF finely powdered camphor.
and the same quantity Ut Cayenne pepper.
The internal nse Of caloinel j. combined