Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1848-12-21
The Cholera.
the Editor of the Southern Sentinel:

clpally from the directions issued by the Board OF
Health Of London, for its prevention and reatnent
(before medical aid can be obtained) may be nse>
ful to the community at large if so, you would
favor me by publishing them.
Your ob'dt. serv't.,
E. SCRATCHLEY, P. M. P.
LIST. From the evidence of observers of all classes
in different countries and climates, it is certain that
Cholera is not contagious. Yet, it is true that GER
tain conditions may favor its spread from person TO
person, as when great numbers of sick are crowded
together in close, ulventilated apartments.
I'd. In the great majority of instances. Cholera
affords, by ,premonitory symptoms, warning of its
approach, in time for the employment of means
capable of arresting its progress.
Sd. The chief predisposing causes are damp,
moisture, filth, animal and vegetable matter in a
state of decomposition, and, III general, whatever
produces atmospheric impurity. All these ought
to be carefully removed as far as possible. Next to
the perfect cleansing Of the premises. drvness ought
to be carefully promoted by keeping up sufficient
fires. etc.
4th. Strict attention should be paid to proper diet
ard clothing. Every article of food which is known
to favor a relaxed state of the bowels should, as far
as possible, be avoided: such as every variety Of
green vegetables, whether cooked or not. as CABS
bage, cucnmbers, salad, also pickles. 1t will be
important also to abstain from fruits of all kinds,
though ripe or even cooked, and whether dried or
preserved. Articles of food and drink, which IN
ordinary seasons are generally wholesome, and
agree well, may 10 these times become highly Gan-
gerous. The diet should be solid rathe, than fluid,
and those who have the means of choosing, should
live principally on animal food, as a~ifording the
most concentrated and invigorating diet, avoiding
sailed and smoked meats, pork, sailed and she'll
fish, acid drinks of all kinds and ardent Spirits
Great moderation 10th in food and drink is abso>
Iutelv essential 10 safety. The most frequent and
deadly attacks in England in 1882, were those that
took place ill the middle of the night, a few hours
after a hearty supper. Tina intervals between
meals should be short.
5th. Warm clothing is Of great importance, fam
mel is therefore advisable, and it is extremely nse-
fnl to wear during the day n flannel bandage round
the body. The feet should be kept warm and dry,
the clothes changed Immediately after exposure TO
wet. and the sitting and bed rooms kept weld and
warm.
9th. 1t may be necessary to add a caution against
the use of cold, ~purgative medicines, such as L r@om
salts, SeidIitz powders, etc., which taken i'll any
quantity on such an occasion are dangerous. Dras-
tic pursa,ives. srch as SIENNA, Aloes, etc., should be
avoided. except under special medical directions.
Treatment.-When medical advice cannot be had
Immediately. the following recommendations may
be useful If. unfortunately, the disease should
visit us, if is essential to the safety of all that they
should be fully impressed with the importance of
paying immediate attention to the premonitory symp-
toms that announces the commencement of the at
tack. This premonitory symptom is %looseness of
the bowels, which there is reason TO regard as uni
versalIy preceding the setting in of the more DANCE
rous state of the disease. "In most cases i'll Hams
bnrgh the disease has manifested itself in a slight
relaxation of the bowels, from which, if promptly
attended to, the patient generally RECEIVERS, but if
the symptoms are neglected, spasmodic attacks en-
sure, and death follows, mostly in from fon1 to six
hours Such was the case also in Paris in 1882,
where / had numerous opportunities of witnessing
the fatal results from neglecting the first stage of
the disease. This Iooseness of the bowels may be
accompanied with some degree of pain, which,
however, is generally slight, but in many cases pain
is wholly absent, and for some hours, and even
days, this bowel complaint may be so slight as to
appear trihing, so that without a previous knows
ledge OF the importance of the warning, it might
easily escape notice. Let it be repeated, when Cho-
Iera is epidemic, the slightest degree of l~ooseness
of the bowels ought to be regarded and treated as
the commencement of the disease, which at this
stage is capable of being arrested by simple means,
but if neglected only for a few hours, may sudden
ly assume a fatal form.
1st. Premonitory symptom, ~leoseness Of the bow
els. This should be treated as common diarhea:
from five to ten drops of laudanum, with a few
drops of peppermint, in an ounce Of chalk mixture,
repeated every three or four hours, or oftener if the
attack is severe; or twenty grains of oplate confec-
ton, mixed with a table spoonful of peppermint
water, or with a little weak brandy and water, and
repeated as the former if necessary, are among the
best remedies. The chalk mixture is prepared
chalk, sugar and gum arabic, rubbed with a certain