Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-06-29

1t is horrible 10 think how these poor crea-
lures suffer In the very midst of provisions
that are made professedly for their relief. [
asked why simple prescription might not
be drawn up by the physicians, and admin
istered by the numerous medical students
who were in Paris, that as few as possible
might suffer from delay Because" said
my companion, "the chiefphyscians must
do every thing personally to study the COM
plant. And So verify believe more hu-
man lives are sacrificed in waiting for ex-
periments, than ever will be saved by the
results. My blood boiled from the begin
ming to the end of this melancholy scene.
l wandered about alone among the beds
till my heart was sick, and could bear il
no longer; and then rejoined my friend who
was IN the tram of one ofthe physicians, ma
klEg the rounds One would think tina,
dying person should be treated with kind
ness, never saw rougher or more heartless
manner than that of the celebrated Dr.
at the bedside of these poor creatures. A
harsh question, a rude pulling omen the
mouth, 10 look at the tongue, sentence or
two of unsurpassed comments to the STU
dents on the progress of the disease, and the
tram passed on. IL Encouragement and de-
SPAR are no. medicines, should think the
visl's OF such physicians were of little avail.
lie wrelched sufferers turned away their
heads after he had gone, in every instance
that saw, with an expression of visibly in
creased distress. Several of them refused 10
answer his questions altogether.
On reaching the bottom of the Sale st.
DIonique, one of the male wards, heard
loud voices and laughter had noticed
much more groaning and complaining in
passing among the men, and the horrible
dlscordance' struck me as something infer
nal. 1t proceeded from one of the sides TO
which the patients had been removed who
were recovering. The most successful treat
meht had been found TO be punch very strong.
with but little acid, and being permitted 10
drink as much as they would, they had be-
come partially intoxicated 1t was fiend-
lsh sight, positively. They were sitting up,
and reaching from one bed TO the other, and
with their still pallid faces and blue lips, and
the hospital dress Of white, they looked like
so many carousing corpseS. turned away
from them in horror.
Twas stopped in the doorway by a litter
entering with sick woman They set her
down in the main passage between The beds,
and left her moment 10 find place for her.
She seemed TO have an interval ofpain. and
rose up on one hand, and looked about her
very earnestly. followed the direction of
her eyes, and could easily imagine her SEN
salons. Twenty or thirty death-liIte faces
We're turned towards her from the different
peus' and the groanS of the dying and the
distressed came from every side She was
without friend whom she knew, sick of a
mortal disease, and abandoned to the mercy
OF those whose kindness is mercenary and
habItual, and of course without sympathy
or feeling. Was it not enough alone. if she
had been far less i'll, TO embitter the very
fountain of life, and kill her with mere
fright and horror? She sank down upon the
litter again, and drew her shawl over her
head had seen enough of suffering, and
left the place.
On reaching the lower staircase, my friend
proposed TO me TO look into the dead ROOM
we descended to large dark apartment,
below the street level, lighted by lamp fix
ed TO The wall. Sixty or seventy bodies Law
on The floor, some of them quite uncovered,
ana some wrapped in mats | could not see
dIsiinctly enough by the dim light, TO Judge
OF Their dlscoloration. They appeared most
ly Old and emaciated
l cannot describe the sensation of relief
with which / breathed the free air once
more. had no fear ofthe cholera. but the
suffering and misery / had seen oppressed
ana hall smothered me- Every one Tho has
walked through hospital, will remember
now natural ii is 10 subdue the breath. and
close The noslrils TO the smells of medicine
ana The close air The fact too, that the
question OF contagion is still disputed though
July believe the cholera not TO be confa-
gious, might have had some effect. NV
breast heaved, however, as if weight had
arisen from my lungs, and walked home
Olesslhg God for health with undissembled
gratitude.
L; 81 began this account Of my visit TO
the Hotet DieU yesterday. ASH am perfect
~ well this morning, think the point OF
non contagion, in my own case at least, is
clear. breathed the same air with tbe dv
ing and the diseased for two hours. and feltof
nearly hundred TO be satisfied of the Curl
Gus phenomena of vital heat Perbaps an
experiment oil this sort in a man moi profess
sIonally physician, may be considered rash
or useless; and | would not willingly be
thought TO have done it from pueriIe cItiosi
ty. have been interested in such subjects
always and considered the fact thai fbe
Kings sons had been permitted 10 visit the
hospltdI, suhclent assurance that the phy-
sicans were seriously convinced there Could
be no possible danger. III need an apology
it may be found in this. o.
Mr. Willis in a subsequent letter Shove That
The gay spirit Of The French. was at last made
10 quail under The terrors of the CboIera
The following are extracts:
Cholera Cholera 1T is now the only
topic: There is no other interest-no other
dread.no other occupation, for Paris. The
invitations Tor parties are at last recall
nI---lhn lInnIrnn 49, - IL Il