Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-10-09
TDs constitutional gylbfg.
COMMUNICATIONS.
To THE EDIroRs OF THE WING.
CHOLERA.


lent town is undergoing at this time. Z wrote to
the Editors of,he Enquirer, just before it commcn-
ccd, and cndcavorcd 10 sllcw from what had seen
published about it, that NJ was both epidemic ana
contagious, notwithstanding all the learned of the
healing profession, both here and i'll Europe, seem
cd 10 be of II different opinion. The Enquirer be-
ing so occupied with what, presume, its Editors
considered much more important, have taken 10
notice of the communication. You, and Your wor-
thy town authorities have immortalzcd yourselves
for your aithulncss to the public by canddly and
honestly presenting the truth, painful as that truth
may be, and against the interest and welfare of
those unfortunate afflicted portions of our commu
nifty; and pledge myself TO you, that you will be
rewarded with the grateful and everlasting thanks
oil all whose appreciation is worth having.
That this woctu disease is both epidemic and
con,ogion, as L then contendcd, think we have
now the most ample and positive proof That it
may commence either from the atmosphere or by
personal communication we have the fullest expe-
ricncc, which is worth all the theories and fine
spun learned dispositions on them in the world.
Commencing from the first cause, like many other
malignant discusses, 1T may certainly run into
,hc last. It's commencement in your town, was
certainly atmospheric. It's commencement and
miserable devastation in Smithfcd, on tho Poto-
mac, i'll Maryland, (according to MIR. Brenrs letter.
and many other places that might be cited was as
clearly by personal communication. Il is now adj
vancing up James River, by the boatmen, from
Richmond. Several have died with it, il is said
between Richmond and New Canton. -Four, it is
stated, arrived at the landing at the latter place. on
Saturday, the 29th, the first of whom died before
physician could he got 10 him. was at the land
ing about noon that day, and being asked my OPT.
Mon by the merchant there | did not hesitate to
give IT on the side of cOntOgion, and that he might
expect it there in few days. Two hoursc had
scarcely elapsed was informed, before the first
case arrived, which, as just said, ended in
death.
In like manner, / have little doubt it will extend
all along the internal navigablc water cornmunica-
tons, as it did at first along all the great CONNER
cai mtcrcourscS; and also into many parts of the
i,,tn
other travelling. / think it possible that Lynch
burg may be longer exempt than some of the other
River Towns, Of not altogetbcr) as n boat can
scarcely reach that point from Rchraond before
the disease would commences if not entirely finish
its course, with the diminuton of the crew of such
boat.
1t will be remembered, that in 1921, most ma
Ignant, unaccountable, and unmanugcablc fever,
passed through this country in straight direction
from the North West West. believe from Mis-
souri,, II not further back, to the coast, the
north east corner of South Carolina. Tho cur
rent OF atmosphere through which it seemed TO be
waited was not more than forty or fifty miles wide
In every case, like the Cholera, it produced an i'm
mediate and total prostratIon, and where it
Killed, which was in very many cases, it
attended with the black vomit, the black gums
and tongue, and | never doubted was n COM
plete yellow fever. When it seized on u family
which was nearly every in its range, scarce Il
single member in such family escaped. Yet where
resided, never thought it extended its effects far
thcr than the atmosphere Of the house in which it
At the Big Lick, however, it was stated
that many travellers passing through the village
III the stage, when calling 10 refresh, were sudden
ly struck with the fatal disease. Such was the
alarm concerning that place, it said, the stage
had to change its route for while. The Enqui-
Ter, then perhaps, less engaged in more important
public affairs, very obgngly published a full state
mcnt of that case, from the commcn cement TO the
end, (fgurativey speaking,) from this same pen.
That there are prc-cNcting, pre- dis posing
causes to disease, Call it which you please) will
denied. of he hash
eagerly seized upon and exaggerated in this case
to answer more bad than good purposes | have as
little doubt. allude TO the article of intempera nee
which is made the ALL EVIL, in
overy thing and what is worse the STALKING HORSE
to much greater national evil than the Cholera it.
self! That intemperance is evil lii every sense, no
ono who regards his own character in the least, |
will have the ctfrontery, the hardihood, positive
wickcdncss to deny; but that it is the hundredth
or thOuSandth part of the of Cholera, or |
any other general evil all observation and expert
ence will clearly settle in the right way. The |
Cholera, we have seen, has ragged much more among
our black & lower classes OF white population,
than among the higher classes. Though the two
first are inclined to that evil than the last, yet
1t is well known, that they have not generally the
means of establishing and keeping up regular and
habitual system of Intemperance, which first pro-
duces an intammatory, ~ then debilitated state.
which induces TO disease. With respect to the
blacks in particular, among whom. it seems this
disease has ragged with peculiar fury, it is well
known to those who know any thing of our black
slave abofors in the South that they are the most
temperate lower class OF people in the world, fr ON
absolute necessity! The great bulk Of the planta-
ii0H StaUeS never see drop of ardent spirits |
from year to year, except at harvest and Christ !
mas, and then not enough to intOXicate in n
thousand from the most liberal masters, and from
your pure coid-mdter, and still more oldbloOded, |
coLdhcnrtcd, temperance society gentry (who they
feed aud raise the means pampcr their RENEGADE
vagabond Pricsts) not one drop, a mouthful of
Christmas meat, Thus this doctrine of intempe-
rance producing the Cholera, far the blacks
who the most afflicted are concerned falls en-
tirely to the ground. Let us examine little into
other causes, TO sustain the same position.
That there are other predsposing causes that
induce diseases, will hardly be denied. These are
first, previous facilitating dispositions-sccond, |
tender intancy-and third, extreme feeble old age
Taking these, with all the temperate though deli
cate part of the female society, and what proper
lion Of them contract fatal diseases and die in pro
portion to the middle aged, robust adult? The |
difference is incalculab!c If then a strong and
vigorous constitution is more exempt, while il |
Lasts, from prevailing diseases than a fra and
feeble one, why not that which nvigorates !
strengthens, and braces the nervous system opc |
rate TO the same preserving effect? do not mean
by this to recommend stiuulants to CxcoSs, but |
i'll moderation Why the spirits of camphor
and laudanum, two of the highest tones and stj- |
mucnts, recommended For the same reason |
recommend moderate and temperate use Of genu. |
inc cognac brandy.
Sirs, by private letters received in this neigh. |
bourhood almost daily, we are informed, that not
= third OF the truth Is conveyed to through the |
papers. Relying, however, your cauuor, your
pledges to the public, and what know, personal
lY, OF your manly lOrtitude, / flatter myself, !
these more the cKaggorations of extreme |
terror in the tmid, than rellitos. And, deeply as
IT IS 10 be dcplorcd, that such panic and alarm
among yourselves should seriously affect your |
markets TO stint you in the comforts if not the !
very necessarics Of life; yet no upright man can