Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-08-03


SiR:-Though not called upon, yet in obedience |
10 what believe may he acceptable to ynm, permit
10 lay before you such available information, |
in relation to the pestilcnee with which ~p are |
threatened. as my observation. and a FREQ inter
change of opinions with physicians, IN the midst
Of the disease, have enabled me to gather
Without meaning to speak in the language of
dictation, would respectfully ask the authorities
of Richmond are they prepared for the reception
ct malady, Justly terror To tho world, and in
many cas6s opprobrium mcdiciu =. Have they
made oil necessary provision tor that class of the
community, who are particularly selected by tho
malady as it's vic,msl Have they established hos
ritals in convenient situations, appointed phySci-
ans arothccaries, procured beds nurses, Iucdi-
cncs, modes of conveyance OF the sick to the hos
pitfalls, Set Ii SO, then let US fearcss!y await lis
approach. do not mean that lis approach is to
be looked for with nnerring certainty, but that.our
being prepared will neither invite repel it, and
th?t We may reasonably expect it.
The physicans of Europe, well of this
country, wllp have been in the most extensive
fields OF observation all concur in stating that the
disease calied Cholera, it came urdct their oh
~ervaton, generally gave warning of its approach,
constituting what is called it's premonitorv stage,
Whereby differing from the disease it appeared in
lndiu, In which the stage called collapse, was the
first, and most generally the last.
Tie prcmonitory stage is the one TO which wish
particularly 30 direct yonr attention. From my
own observation and inquiries, IN passing through
% fhnNards OF tho different hospitals III New York,
i ann enabled to State 10 Yod That i negative
"vsr never given TO the question, w =. the col
lapse preceded by prcmonito:y symptoms' You
Will ask what are the premonItcry synpto,ns, as
LAID down o. writer's. they are numerous;---aone
of which will mention. The patient complains
81 lasstude, frequent slight uncasincss in the re-
CiNn al the stomach, occasional nausea, some
haadnchc, crlmp uc tNr iiugcrS, toes, and abdomen
slight gid,!ineSS and singing OF the accompa-
noinS these symptoms diarrhDa, not attended with
much gripping, ~ FIRST iccucnt, afterwards assu-
ming the c0nsIstcuce and aspect OF dirty water.
Ihis last seems To &c the most constant and inva
riob!o precursor OF The collapse; indeed, constant
as it, that am disposed TO think the Cholera may
be reduced to.this stage, and that by timely
ton tn 1t, the collapse, which is regarded as
the characteristic stage OF tho disease, may almost
invariably he aycrted.
Collapse comes next. 1t is characterized hy
small or quite inscnsibe pulses, expulsion from,
tho stomach aud bowels, Of fluid resembling rice
water codncss of the surface oppressed rcspirn-
ton, spasmodic contractions 0f the muscles OF the
inferior and superior extrcmties, mot frequent
ly of the trunk attended with acute pains in the
parts which are the seat OF these spasms,
unsuitable thirst; tho eyes become din, the
features greatly altered, he hands and feet
become hard, and the skin on them. wrin-
Killed.. as If they had been soaked in hot water;
the skin cold over the whole body, and more par
ticularty at the cXremItlcs, cold swea; the
face arms, and chest; great anxiety, tongue of
blush tint, cold covered with thin layer of
brownish mucus; cold BREATH al cessation of the
urinary function, nc. When the patient has been
consecutive fever reaction it is called is ofien
instituted, in which there is dangerous and in
creased action in the circuatory apparatus, involv
ing and placing in the most imminent danger, the
most important organs OF the system the brain,
the lungs, and the liver &c. THIS stage is not to
be regarded as free from danger but S requiring
the skill OF Physician to be promptly and decided
ly executed.
Having hastily and briefly portrayed the symp-
toms of Cholera in its different stages, will pro-
coed to lay before you the means OF prevention.
1t may he asked thcro any means of Prevent
ION. L most confidently reply, that in my belief
fherc are; but in order TO apply those means it will
DE necessary to understand something of the mode
Of action of the cause producing the disease
Were the disease cnntag ou- possessing the pow
or Of self propagation, as is contended by some, it
would be easy Noid ii; but un!uckily the cause
is common, arc all equally exposed to its inlu-
enco, and we resist IFS action in proportion
systems arc healthy, vigorous and active, or the
contrary In what other manner is the fact expli-
cable that the disease is almost strictly confined to
the lowest class of The community, than by the
mode of life necessarily attending their condition?
In densely populated towEs the systems of all are
more prcdsposcd TO he acted upon by any cause
tending to produce disease, but more especially the
poor who inhabit the most crowded and filthy parts
of thoso towns, who arc badly nour.shcd, badly !
clothed, badly ventilated, badly lodged; in short,
who are exposed to thousands of ca Sos, tending |
20 dobilitatc their systems. In New Iork, many
of the subjects of Cholera were the inmates o.
prisons, and in all the countries in which CHOLERA
has over existed il has always made its first appear
,ancc among large asscmbldges of persons other
animals, evidently showing the state of predispo-
si;ion acquired by number of persons being
crowded together. Admitting the above to 10 true,
1 conclude that residence in crowded city, at
the same time breathing on atmosphere charged
with the poison producing Cholera, gives rise to
state of greater or less prcdisposItion, to have
Cholera excited by under other constitutions
of tho atmosphere, producing other Diseases no
disease at all. Among the poorer classes, in many
instances, no immediate exciting cause is neccssa-
Ty; the predisposing being at the same time the /
exciting, in e,hcr words the state of debility in |
which they found being Sufficient for the actor
o. thc cause, and dcvcl0pnen of the disease.-
Persons thus situated Capuo too vigorously observe
the laws Of UJgcja. Without detailing every
Cause who. determine Or ;.vod5y the development
of the disease III Tins state oi Vr1iispoSton will
Tnorei; mention sue. should he avoided or |
guarded against; -al'ernai,ns Of cold aud humid. !
~ OF night with the heat OF d1y;-tho abuse of al
cOhoio iiirors;I iii ths habit of abuse should exist
at ths time Of invasion Of the disease the sudden
withdrawal Ivy leaving the system depressed, would
greatly c~Tngc to, and increase the danger of at
tack b1d food, want of cleanliness both about
h tutdtioDs and persons, at table, all indj-
gsstible animal vegetable food, all acid un-
ripe fruits, cXccssas OF every kind, fatigue of the !
body, excitement Of tn, mental and moral powers, !
numerous arc tbs instances Of the powerful iDlu.
Of tho depressing passions, in exciting the d.
sease) all cholera PrCventvcS, as they are called,
because improperly used, they dcbliltate, &c.
If all the precautionary measures should fail to
prevent the accession of the prcmon;ory symptoms
there is then, in NEST cases, ample time to avert
the collapse. This is the first, tho most important
and may most generally bo the last, by requesting
the advice Of u physician. Should the Fremont.
terry stage pass by unnoticed unregarded, and
collapse come on, then the difficulty becomes seri.
Gus; then there IS not moment 10 lose, all the