The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-05-30
THE CHOLERA.
Extracts q Letters from Paris from an
.4mericnn Phnsicinn

.dmeTtcdn Physician.
PARIS, April 2.
Treatment seems to have some effect
upon the cholera. We followed M. Bxlly,
this morning, at the Hotel Dleu, and wit
messed number of his pntients doing well
under Galvanism. Needles are inserted
beneath the skin, as in acupunctsre, and
then galvanized,-.he applications are made
to he neck and epigastrum,-he admins
tiers nothing but cold water and external
heat, applied to the feet hy means of cha
findish. M. Husson, another physician, is
trying applications to the spine, of fannels
dipped in turpentine and aqua ammonie,-
over these very warm smoothing iron is
then passed.. The whole spine is then act
ed upon by this powerful rubefacient his
success is among the best atiested.
1t is impossible to estimate the mortality
of the chelera.-the number Of successful
cases must necessarily increase-the knowl-
edge of the existence of an epidemic being
dlffused, the poor will call for medical aid
at an earlier period, physicians will prooa-
bly, adopt plans OF treatment, founded upon
rational indications-and, in accordance
with the laws Of epidsmics, the disease will
become less violent. The deep seated Sc
cret agent, which produces the disease must
continue unchecked by any means within
our reach. We know not its origin-we
are ignorant Of the laws which govern its
course, and nothing remains but patience
and hope that the disease will not become
extremely formidable. The same cause,
whatever it may be, which produces cholera,
acting with diminished energy upon the
mass of the people, has affected a large
number of individuals with diarrheas, I'M
easness at the stomach, and even vomiting
and slight cramps, without causing perma-
nent injury or fatal results; but the actual
disease is strongly characterized and not
easily mistaken. | visit the Hotel Deu
every morning-tbe largest number of pa
tients with the cholera are there collected
in two large wards, and can form an opin-
ion as TO the methods Of treatment and the
symptoms peculiar to the disease.
Dinrrh9a is usually the first SYMPTOM
or rather Diarrhea is produced by the con-
mon cause, and it is not possible to predict
the occurrence Of severer symptoms. If
they appear, the disease becomes declared.
Severe vomiting and cramb: follow tho di-
arrhGa very closely sometimes, but rarely
chill precedes all other symptoms. The
cramps are very painful, Indeed they form
the principal cause of suffering, and are
most common in the calves of the leg, then
in the fingers and fore arms, sometimes but
rarely in The muscles of the abdomen; in
one patient this morning the muscles of the
lower jaw were affected. The pulse is fee
bile from the beginning Of the disease; it is
totally imperceptible, and can only be felt
in the largest arteries if the symptoms be-
come aggravated,-!he heart itself pulsates
feebly GOODNESS of the extrcmities, fi,ce, in
deed Of the whole surface of the body, in
GLIDING the tongue, usually attends the ab-
sence Of the pulse,--bnt the restoration of
heat is very far from Reproducing the pulse,
and the forcible contraction of the heurt.
Patients die even If The heat shall be natu-
raj, unless the action Of the heart returns.
Tho prominent symptoms coincide with
those already Described, and seem equally