Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-09-05
REPORT ON THE CHOLERA.
Ry DoCTOR DRAKE.

Al a special meeting of The Cincinnati Medic
al Society July llth, 1882, Doctors DRAKE. RI
cHARps, McDowELL, BONNER and WOODWARD
were appointed Committee, to draw up and re-
port to the Society, catalogue of the articles
which should be provided and kept in families for
the treatment of the Epidemic Cholera, in the
absence of the physician of the family, with de-
tailed instructions for their application.
AT an adjourned meeting, July 18th, DR.. Drake,
Chairman of said Committee, made the following
REPORT:
"The Committee to whom was entrusted the du-
ty of framing catalogue of articles, which should
be provided and kept in families, to be used in
Epidemic Cholera, should it visit our City and to-
whom was entrusted the further duty, of drawing
up instructions for the use, by the people, before
the aid of physician be obtained, beg leave to
Report
That they have faithfully, given to the subject,
all the attention, which its deep Importance de-
mands from every member of the profession =
They have had in view, the treatment of the stage
of prostration only; in reference to which they
have considered what may be done by the people
in the absence Of medical aid; and what articles
it would be desirable to have always in readiness
The following catalogue will embrace, all which
the Committee think it important should be kept
on hand
Laudanum Spirits of Hartshorn, Ether,
Essence of Peppermint, each one ounce,
Spirits of Turpentine, one bottle.
Several ten grain doses of Calomel in Powder
Powdered Capsicum, two ounces,
-Mustard unadulterated, one pound.
One box of Soda Powders.
A quart of French Brandy or Old Whiskey.
A quantity of sand and bags of different shapes
and sizes to contain it when applied.
One OF two coarse brushes, fit to rub the sur
face
Old Flannel
A Bathing tub, when it can be afforded
In addition to which, as the disease so often
makes its attacks in the latter part of the night
your Committee, would recommend, that should
it become prevalent here, every family should
keep small lamp burning in the chambers thro-
out the night; and also, make such provisions be
fore retiring, as would enable them to have fire
and hot water at any hour of the night.
When any person is seized with vomiting and
purging, or either, attended with distress in his
stomach or bowels, and great weakness, he should
if the much dreaded Epidemic Cholera really
prevail in the city at the time, be regarded as at
tackled with it; and not moment should be lost,
IN adopting ,easures for his relief.
In every case a messenger should be Immediately
despatched for medical assistance; and, the com
mtlee would earnestly advise, that every family,
and all individuals not connected with families,
should, beforehand. fix at least two physicians,
to one of whom they would send in the event Of
being attacked. One of them should be the fam
lily physician, and the other, substitute for HIM,
in case he cannot be found.
Meanwhile, the patients feet should be hung
off the bed, into tub of salt water, as strong as
brine, and as hot he can bear it, and trictions
applied to his back and to his legs, with the hands,
until he is turned round on the bed; from which
he should not rise, and in which his lower extre~
mites should be well covered with blankets, and
kept warm by bags of hot sand or otherwise.
While the bathing goes on, mustard poulce
should be prepared, (by stirring the flour into
a little hot water,) and applied, hot, over the pit
of the stomach. 1t ought to be as large as the
two hands of grown person.
As soon us an individual is attacked, if he do
not vomit freely, and, especially if he have eaten
a hearty meal not long before, he should drink
tumbler Of warm weak lye, made from the fresh
and clean ashes of the fire place, into which should
be thrown, two or three heaping tea spoonfus of
the flour of mustard seed. This will at once cor
rect the acidiy Of the stomach, revive to some
tent and warm the system, and excite salutary
vomiting.
But if the puking have already been great, and
the stomach is cramped, he should take from half
to teaspoonful, of audanum, with twenty or 80
drops of spirit of hartshorn, or the same quanti-
ty of ether, mixed in some weak lye; which, when
the ether is given should be cold. In an hour, Or
if violent spasms or cramps in the limbs como on
in half an hour this dose may be repeated.
In the meantime, the patient should, OCCASION
ally, drink gill of clean I've, made OF ashes and
SCOT, and if his thirst be urgent, he may take now
and then, small glass, of mineral WATER, prepa-
red from the portable soda powders, to which a
little brandy or whskey may be added. But in
the use of this drink, he must, from the chilling
effects of the soda water, be prudent.
Should physician not arrive within reason
able time. and the disease continue to rage, ter
grains of calomel mixed with little sugar, should
be thrown on the tongue Of the patient, and wash
ed down with spirit and water, and mustard poul'
.sices spripkled with powdered capsicum, may be
applied to the insides of the thighs, above thu
knees; or in any place of them, flannel bandages
dipped in hot spirits of turpentine, may be wrap
firmly around the'same parts.
These are all the instructions which the Com
nttee think it necessary to give, in city, where
scarcely single person, could at any time suffer
for want Of medical aid.
; In cnoclusion, the Committee would earnestly