Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-06-20
For the United STATES Gdzeiie.
THE CHOLERA IN QUEBEC.

THE CHOLERA IN QUEbEC.
Mr.. CHAsDLER: You will probably this morn
ing give the details Of the cholera reports from
Canada. These are, apparently, very alarming,
and will be no doubt received by some with more
credit than the gospel; and yet there is great rea.
to believe that there is not the least founda.
ton for the assertion that the cholera among the
emigrants at Quebec is the Asiatic cholera. The
influence OF the change Of climate to which these
persons have been suddenly subjected, and their
probable indulgence in, and excessive use Of
fresh meat, which is a rarity I" them at home and
on ship. board, are causes sufficiently powerful to
account for the prevalence OF cholera among them.
But there Is another cause, Of equal II not great
er power, in the production Of cholera morbus
among them, to say nothing Of intemperance. and
that is, the bad water Of Quebec. Few persons
visit that city without suffering an attack OF Cho.
lera from this cause alone; the writer is one OF
them, and there were others in the same hotel,
who were 50 affected at the same time. Last
summer twenty-five cases Of cholera were report
ell in one of our weekly bills OF mortality, and the
British papers announced forthwith that the cho.
Iera was in Philadelphia! The fact was, that
the summer complaint of children was Included
among the cases Of cholera of grown persons in
the bill, aud this gave rise to the idea that the
Asiatic disease had appeared in our city.
The cholera Of Quebec may, doubtless, ope'
rate with the same deadly violence as the Asiatic
disease, owing to the circumstances OF the emf
! grants, and the violence OF the exciting causes
which induce an attack; but, as regards the
United States, there is not the least ground Tor
the fear of its being brought or introduced among
them: for it is not contagious disease, and the
malaria. or infected atmosphere producing it,
cannot resist the decomposition and dIluIon to
II - ho fod 4 a hOdv mi
to attempt to cross the wide Atlantic. Let those
who do not delight in being frightened keep
quiet. H.
rThe above communication is from highly
respectable source, and yet we do not think the
writer gives sufficient consequence to the SUD-
iect, surprising always, that the information
from Lower Canada is correct II is said that
natives have sickenei and died Of This cholera,
and we know of nothing 10 the laws of physics.
that should guarantee our citizens from the same
effects, should similar disease, whether chols'
ra or some other pestilence, be brought or gene
rated among them. We have no disposition to
enter the lists of the alarmlsts, but when we see
the authorities, medical and spiritual, IN New
York and Albany, 50 actively engaged in pre-.
pairing for the enemy, we begin to suspect that
there is some, truth in the reports, and some
cause for the alarm.
.. The pestilence that waiketh in darkness and
yasteih at noon -day."-Whether the spasmodic
cholera that has travelled over the finest parts OF
Asia, and is now devastating Europe is contagious,
or is spread by apecuiar state OF the atmosphere,
IS point upon which medical men nave not
agreed. In either case see no reason why we
can expect to be exempted from lis ravsges. Let
us then prepare in season for the gloomy visitor.
1t is acknowledged on all hands that Temperance
g. cleanliness are the best safeguards Let me then
ad mon,sh our citizens to abstain entirely from
the use Of ardent spirits, and by free useof the
warm bath, keep the surface clean and promote
perspiration and a-free circulation OF the blood.
(Poulson's finer.
The following mode Of treating the Cholera,
it is said, has been pursued with entire success
at Weizniz. Out Of $40 persons treated, every
one was saved:
sTake pint of strong spirits Of wine, add
10 them .one ounce of powdered camphor, one
ounce Of flower Of mustard or bruised mustard
seed, a quarter of an ounce Of ground pepper,
and iul tea.spoonfuI Of bruised garlic; and last
", half an ounce of powdered cantharides. Mix
them we'll together in bottle, aud expose the
mixture for twelve hours in the sun, or otherwise
place It in some warm spot, taking care to shake
it repeatedly.
.sAs soon as the peron is attacked, let him be
instantly put to bedi under warm coverids, and
let his hands and feet be rubbed powerfully and
uniuterruptedly with the lotion. after it has been
warmed. During this operation, let the patient
take a glass of strong drink, composed Of two
parts Of camcmile flowers, and one part Of balm
mint.
"Persevere in iris course, and at the end OF
fifteen minutes at the utmost, 1.-THE patients head
and body being kept we'll covered beneath the
bed-clothes,) he will break out into Profuse
perspiratiou.
The patient must be kept in that state be-
tween two and three hours; but care must be
taken that he does not fall asleep. After this,
remove the extra covering from al the bed and
he will drop into sumber, which will last be.
tween six and eight hours. and be accompanied
BY gentle perspiration.
when he awakes, be will find himself weak,
bat the disease will have entirely left h,m, and
he will require nothing further but rest apd