The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-08-14

with the cases OF > }asmodic Cholera,
that hare occurred in the family of VII
ham Foster, ef this town. l state these
facts, as tending TO explain its origin,
not as illustrating the mode of treatment,
or cure.
The following facts are gathered from
the most correct sources of ofinformation-
being either the result of my own obser-
vation, or communicated to me by Fos-
ter himself, and the members Of his fam
ily, or by those who personally witness
ed them.
The public are apprizsd, that two fe-
males, laboring under sy nptoms of the
spasmodic Cholera, came on shore from
the sloop Hero, on the morning of the
25th of July one Of whom died on the
evening of that day, and the other some
time in that night. VIM. Foster, the
individual in whose family the Cholera
has since made its appearance, buried
both OF them, and assisted in placing
them in their collins. The first who
died was buried at I o'clock A. M. on
Thursday, the 26th after the interment
he returned home, and slept alone, in
his clothes hours, in bed which had
been previously occupied by his children,
and which on the following night and
afterwards they occupied !; at s o'clock
he was called up, and assisted in bury
ing the s.cold person, after which he
returned home, changed his clothes. and
placed tbem in the yard. Between this
and the Both ult. he was with his family
as usual, all the members Of which
were in good health, except one child,
who was just recovering from the mea-
sles, (the other children having reeov-
cred from that disease several days. pre-
viously)-On the 80 Foster was attack
ed with symptoms of bilious Cholic, at
tended with vomiting and purging of
bile, to similar attacks of which (as he
informed me) lie had been subject fire.
quently, for several months before, and
two weeks previously he experienced
one more distressing than that under
which he then laboured, which confined
him to the house for four days the Sc
verify of the symptoms was relieved in
few hours-on the succeeding day,
after drinking excessively Of cold water
he had recurrence of the same symp-
toms, which were soon releve ed, and he
remained convalescent, though very fee
bte, until Thursday night, when he was
again attacked with slight cramps, vio-
lent vomiting and purgIng Of bile ; from
these he was speedily relieved. and since
that time he has been rapidly recovering
As could not discover in this case
that peculiar combination and succession
of symptoms which distinguished spas
modic Cholera, did not consider it to
he that disease and ascribed the origin
of it to the habits Of the individual.
On Friday evening, at 10 o'clock,
child aged 10 months, was attacked
with symptoms Of Cholera, and died at
o'clock the next morning.
Afterwards. OIL the sanse morning. Sa-
turday 4th inst. the family were remov-
ed to more eligible situation on the hill:
soon after which. Mrs. +. exhibited the
premontory symptoms Of cholera, COLI
apse soon supervenet, and she died Mt
8 the next morning. Another child ag-
ed 3 years, (thc. one which on the 30th
was recovering from the n,coslcs) was
sclzed on Sunday morning with symp.
toms Of the same disease, was soon re-
lieved, and has nov recovered.
Atl2P. NJ. on Sunday, the eldest
child, 10 years Of age, manifested the
same symptoms, and died at A r: NJ. the
next day.--Since then, there has been
no appearance of the disease in the re-
naming members Of that family.-FOs-
ter's family consisted Of his wife and
four children, the eldest 10 years Of age,
aud the youngest 10 months.
During the whole of Fosters sickness,
from the 3Oth Of July until the family
were removed, the relations and friends,
from an apprehension that he was af-
flicted with the Cholera, were deferred
from visiting the house of course, the
whole care Of the family devolved upon
Mrs. Foster-she was undoubtly predis-
posed to the disease by exhaustion from
FATIGUE, and thewan' Of SUITABLE NOUs-
IsHMENr. The child who died first, was
held by the mother in her arms. during
the whole of the night Of its sickness,
was nursed by her, aud received no o.
ther nutriment. The children, though
apparently well, could not from their
manner of living, have possessed very
vigorous constitutions.
The house which the family occupied.
was old and in state Of decay, but was
not very unclean previous to the indis-
position of Foster: after that, filth might
have accumulated.-There were many
circumstances in the situation Of these
patients, calculated to invite the disease,
and to present the most feeble resistance
to its attack.
All the Physicians who have seen the
above mentioned patients, coincide IN