Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-08-16
REPORT
OF CONSULTING PHYSICIANS.

y The Consulting Physicians, having
reason to believe that errors exist, in the
minds Of many persons, in regard to the
means Ofpreventing Cholera, have avail
ed themselves Of a meeting called fol
other purposes, at the request of the
Health Commissioners of the Middle
District, to express their opinion on the
points alluded to. They perform this du.
tIty with some hesitation, lest they should
be thought to obtrude their opinions un-
asked.
] /. Use Of Vegetables. There seems to
exist belief that vegetables should be
abstained from during the existence OF
the epidemic disposition to cholera. The
consulting physicians, in their first pub
lie report, advised their fellow citizens to
abstain from all uncooked vegetables,
such as cucumbers, and all salads. They
did not advise abstinence from vcgeta-
bles, when of good quality, and properly
cooked. These, OH the contrary, they
recommend, as salutary provision of ma
ture, at this season, to cool and regulate
the digestive system.
2. Ripe Fruits. A similar error pre-
walls as to fruits. This board are aware
that the use of fruit has been wholly pro-
scribed by some writers on the subject of
cholera. To this Injunction they cannot
assent. They believe that moderate
use of our own ripe fruit is one Of the
means Of prevention, by removing that
state Of the digestive organs which would
disorder the secretions Of those organs,
and thus prepare them for disease. 1t
may be stated, as a general truth, that
the exciting cause of the epidemic more
frequently lies in an improper quantity Of
food, than in any peculiar quality, al
though the quality should by no means
be regarded with indifference.
3. Use of Spirits 10 prerem Cholera.-
a notion has been taken up by some in
among the well informed part /
of the community, that moderate use Of
such as wine, and even BRAN
dy, is beneficial, as preventive of chol-
era; and not only has the opinion been
adopted, but practical application Of it
has been made, by habtual spirit drink
ers, to great extent. The origin Of
these errors has been attributed to the
advice of Southern physician; and
some persons have intmated a suspicion
that they have arisen, in part, from the
direction of this board to use brandy and
water as a vehicle for giving laudanum,
IN the case of violent and sudden attack
,f cholera, before the advice of a physi-
,ian could be obtained.
The opinion of. this board is clearly
hat all kinds Of ardent spirits and other
trong siimulants are not useful IN prerent-
n.g cholera: but that they dispose TO its at
ack. This opinion they mean to express
n the most unqualified manner; and they
wish to advise and to warn all persons to
lbstain wholly from their use. Those
Who are accustomed to an Incorporate
'se of ardent spirits and of wine, may
afely leave Off these habits by attending
o the following cautions.
l. To diminish their common food con-
iderably below the usual quantity; and
o let it consist of animal rather than veg
table substance. A light broth taken
n small quantities, at short intervals, Is
articularly proper.
=. i use strong dccocuon Oh the
cgetable bitters as a substitute for alco-
for example as wormwood,
hamomile, horcnound, ,southcrnwood and q
,nzy. The aromatic herbs, spcarmint, I
nd peppermint, may suit some constitu-
ons more than the btters. Under the
irection of a physician, preparations OF
ark and quinina may be advantageous I
, employed for the same purpose. o
The Board take this occasion to state =
" your satisfaction, that the city, 50 Tar
5 they are Informed, is more healthy
nan usual at this season. Slight aifec-
ons Of the bowels are not unircquent; !
nd within a few days there have appear
number ol cases Of Cholera Morbus, :
hich yielded readily to medicine j
'hcsc attacks We believe can in all cds- 3