Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-08-17

true copy from the Journal of the Board of iieal,h
JOSEPH TATE
President Of The Board of Health
JAMES RAWLINGS, Secretary.
10 7yfE EDITORS or TYE r,Nouyppp
THE CHOLERA
GENTLEMEN: Ihave not walled myself of tho onpor-
tunities of visiting cases of choer, yb;.h VIC Piv
fortunately afforded by their existence in varo,s of
our counry but neither have been so unconcerned as
not to have carefully compared and considered the ac-
counts which have been given in foreign pubcaions
Some oil these considering the appalling scenes
and the panic under which, il is reasonable TO sunnose
ney were given evnce depth Of thought observa-
on which illustrative of that innate power of mind bv
which, occasionally triunphs the greatest evils
and impericctions OF nature IL is far then from nv
intention TO disparagc the efforts which have been made
in relation to cholera but constrained 10 saw an in
divdual among ourselves has viewed the calamity nst
phiosophicaly has assigned true remote and Yelling
causes, and what is of equal Importance the
mos. direct practical and efficient application Of the pro-
per remedy. What can il avail though all concur i'm as
signing deficient oxygena,ion The blood as tho cause
Of the most fatal symptom occurring collapse if not,
outstanding, there Is neglect impar that essential in
greuen which, indeed, may now with peculiar propriey
be called (wha in truth is and what Indicated bv lis
on-iashioned name) rdI ar. Under the circumstance
OF exclusion oil oxygen, might well be expected 10
increase animal heat by friction other means as to gone
rate it in seasoned timber. II is the communication
over tho signature OF fniicus .lfedic 10 which asl
the public attention, because of coincidence of e,
mon with the author, the remote and exciting
of cholera but because he has shown and ns;s,ed n
he ony method In the way OF practice, by which the
only important fact in the and to which all agree
Is likely to be OF the least utility 1t is my candid belief
aPPhcauoh oil oxygen TO the lungs will provo the most
certain remedy for the evil May | hope that YOU will
publish The communication alluded to in the Enquirer!
TO TIE EDITORS or TIE EroyyReR.
GENTIENtEE: The Epidemic Cholera which has so lcrr
prevailed in Europe and other countries and which b,s
recently appeared in our country, from its uncommon
symptoms and grea, fatality has very Justly excited the
attention OF many il not all the Medical Faculty; as wen
those who have the disease attended To its pre-
gress as those who anticipate its appearance among them
nave read aentively such have appeared
In the Public Journals and such other public atoms con.
cerm"g thus disease, as within my reach, and dis
cover Ua Is out impertectly understood both TO its
cause and treatment Its has been attributed TO
nlasm, or peculiar poison floating in the atmosphere
which is absorbed carried into the blood vessels atectn
secretons, &C. Whether this hypothesis be correct mr. mot
certainly mas not contributed much the relief Of the
unfortunate subjects of this disease Physicians have in
all ages attributed diseases TO conagon asInata In
the atmosphere they are, however, unable TO detect lis
presence by any chemical process
such has been the result of the best chemical cxnar
mens upon the atmosphere ascertain the cause of the
Cholera, as TO lead to satisfactory conclusions Reflect
ing upon the symptoms attending this disease as thew have
been described by those who have seen il, have becn
led to form an hypothesis different from the opi
mons nave seen advanced; and if venturng commu-
ncate them through the medium of paper any bene
NJ should arise even TO single individual shall be full.
~ compensated for the brief suggestions which shall!
make he uncommon GOODNESS OF the tongue cold breath
and cold surface and diminished vital powers shew state
oil suspended animation from powerful cause Our,t
mosphere Is said to contain about 18th part of oxygen gas
wch Is Indispensable for the support of animal life Some
ANIMALS require more oxygen sustain their healthy nc
ons than Others Man requires much or more oxygen
ah any ether animal in proportion his size state
OF asphyxia, DEATH may produced by denrvn
any animal oil the atmospheric oxygen, and the action Of
the heart and arteries can be diminished in nronor; ~
tue oxygen gas is withdrawing and the contrary the
motion OF the heart and arteries may be increased as an
additional supply OF oxygen is furnished who has not
seem or heard OF the exciting eXhilrang effects pro-
acid gas! The carbonc acid gas on the other hand
,Eauces the most depressing sensations, and if long
nhaed occasions death, has often occurred to per-
sons sleeping in close rooms, where there is burning
CHARCOAL or IN Deep close, damp cellars The mephet
car or hoNlous contained in the Groto del CAM near
Naples, Is Of this descriptions and proves fatal 10 all animals
confined IN 1t, even for short time Here would ha-
zard an enquiry: May the atmosphere of this glohe
nave undergone changes from causes unknown TO
u.s. and which chemical sciSnce is unable to detect and
mat change in the atmosphere be greater in some situa
uos than Others because of causes which
do not generally prevai Whether the onantv Of oxv
gen in our atmosphere, has, from any cause been dnn
ished; or whether il disposed enter into other and
more extensive combinations with surrounding objects, so
as to diminish the supply animal vegetable creation
Is an inquiry not readily answered One fact however
Is worthy oil remembrance, that in the attempts check
the progress OF ChOera which have been attended with any
success very large portion of oxygen gas has been f
through The atmosphere OF the infected regions The diff
fusion oil oxygen gas by umigang streets and houses
has arrested the progress OF the disease in some parts of
Europe and at Porobelo is said To have checked be lis
ease IN one day The circumstance OF this disease appear
ing mostly among those who blessed with the com
Portable conveniences olife the l-ed occupants of con-
hned hlhy lventated ahodes in the suburbs of large
towns among the poor emigrants long confined and close
y crowded together during long and Portable vow
of
this disease is deficiency of oxygen either in the sur
rounding atmosphere, in the sylen the infected sub
Jec or in both 1t is equally reasonable to attribute the
remote or Pre-disPosing of disease, 10 deficiency
OF an ingredient in the atmosphere which necessary and
indispensable to the support of animal life as 10 refer il
TO noXiOus masm, which the cannot perceive nor
chemical Investigations detect The analysis of the at
nosphere made by chemists since the prevalence of the
disease OF Cholera IL not argument against the theory
above advanced Chemists have been unable TO tell the
exact quantity OF oxygen combined with any one sub
stance different degrees ygnaton taking place in differ
ent substances and in the substance ia different de-
grees as the present chemical nomenclature will explain
The exact quantity Of oxygen in the atmosphere is
not iuty KNOWN nor Is the height extent of the at
mosphere, known to chemists philosophers. The at
nosphere has also different strata or currents tcse
Inherent strata or currents have in them different
portions OF oxygen is fully usatraed by the excur
sons ana accounts OF @ronauIs in this and other coun
tries particularly in France The oxygen necessary for
the support oil animal life, in perfect state Of health
may not exist IN certain strata Of atmosphere any more
than portions OF electric fluid may be found i'm strata of
atmosphere not usually impregnated with it, Nav not
the portion OF oxygen in the immediate strata of auo
pierre OF Injected regions be deficient hence prove
remote or predsposng the disease of Cholera?
The vegetation and fruits of country are materiaIlv
Affected by atmospheric infiuenccs-they, CONSTITUTING
part Oh the sustenance OF man, may when thus Affected
become tributary to the remote and prove in cases
the exciting cause of disease. The ilnmaurty of our
fruits and vegetables late years has been unoced
even by the most casual observers That this immature
" Is occasioncd by atmospheric influences or causes il
very Obyiosts and vegetables absorb quantities of
oxygen from The atmosphere in their growth and
10 perfect slate; deficiency Of oxygen in the surround
ing air, would produce the vegetable kingdom csults
TO