Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-07-04
REPORT
OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
To Me Citisens Of WartinsJuro.

highly important to advise their fellow
citizens of those causes, which uniyer.
sal experience has shown to engender
and difiuse that disease which vet con.
tlnues to spread dismay through some
portions of the country, and may ere
long become an unwelcome visitor a.
mong us.
In the enumeration of those causes,
the Board forbear to speak of that uni.
versalEpidemic principle which appears
TO be coextensive with the human race.
which act on all, and which renders
all alike susceptible of an attack ofthe
disease. This principle, whatever il
may be, is onl ymentioned to distinguish
1t from another set of causes over which
sanitary regulations alone can have any
controul. The epidemic principle pre-
dlsposes the system to an attack whilst
irregularities of all kinds, and expo.
sures call that predisposition into ac-
ton, IN cases where it would never have
caused cholera, had the necessary pre-
cautions been duly attended to.
1. Among the most powerful causes
OF the disease over which it is admitted
by men of extensive experience that
sanitary regulations have decidedly be-
neficial effect, the Board would earn
estly direct attention to the usual arti.
cles of diet. Among this long cata-
logue we would especially advert to the
following particulars too often used in
times OF danger by the thoughtless and
unrefiectlng. Sour and unripe fruits,
and vegetables of hard digestion, green
apples, and those even that are ripe bat
sour and unmellow, pears, peaches, a.
pricots, unboiled onions, cabbage ana
its different culinary preparations, me-
Ions and cucumbers, beets, raisins, al
monds, all kinds of nuts, ellies and all
fruits and vegetables preserved with
sugar; boiled corn, radislIes and unboil.
ed turnips, and all acid drinks as cider
and sour wines; pork, smoked and dri
ed beef, goose, duck, hard boiled eggs,
fat meats, meats too highly seasoned
with stimulating condiments; buildings
made of heavy, sodden dough and sour
bread. Let it be well remembered that
all these articles which are of difficult
digestion, more particularly when the
system is already predisposed to an at
tack of the disease, irritate the die s.
tive organs and actually induce a state
which another error will frequently
explode into the cholera. But let it be
remembered that in time of disease that
the body be well nourished by appro-
pirate diet, for by starvation attacks
are frequently induced by the exhaus-
ton of the system and its consequent
susceptibility. No more food should
be taken into the stomach than can BE-
easily and effectually digested. If az
ter a meal it should be found that the
mind is listless, the body indisposed to
action, if there be distention of the
stomach and discharge of air by tn
mouth, let it be impressed upon the at
tentlon, that either too much food has
been taken, or that the stomach has
been irritated by articles ofdifficult d.
gestion. Let none who are not accus.
toned to hard labour, undergo fatigu-
ing exercise for two or three hours after
dinner-for this as every one must have
observed, produces Indigestion. 1t will
often have been remarked, that during
the prevalence of the cholera many
articles of food will be found to disa-
gree with the stomach which hitherto
had produced no such effect. This has
been observed of tomatoes, cabbage,
sour krout, and others; let these,
therefore, be particularly observed and
sedulously prescribed. The Board
would recommend then,a nutritious diet
sufficient for the vigour Of the frame.
Among the innocent articles the follow
ing may be recommended-cold bread,
fresh butter, milk, rice, potatoes, mo-
lasses, fresh beef and bacon in small
quantities; fowls, mutton, veal, soft
boiled eggs. 1t is not thought proper
to prescribe ripe and digestible fruits,
provided they be taken in small guam
titv and when the stomach is not alrea.
DIV loaded with food. Let these arti-
Giles be variously used with the neces
sary precaution, that the stomach be
not overcharged and that all that is
eaten be easily digested.
2ndly. The Board do not deem it
necessary to dwell at length on the des
tructive effects of ardent spirits, and
even of wine when too freely used. If
the experience of the whole world be
not sufficient to deter from the abuse
ofthem, we are persuaded that nothing
from the Board can have any effect.
3rdly. Another set ofcauses TO which
the board would advert is exposure of
the body. Vicissitudeso of temperature,
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