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

The following remarks, which we abstract from
an article in the P~icayune Of the 18th, (not being
able to give it in fully respecting the second advent
of this scourge in New Orleans-if indeed it is re-
ally there-will be perused with interest:
tThe' reports which have been circulated through
the city for several days past to the effect that this
fell scourge is upon us, have assumed such consls-
tency and directness that we are not prepared to
urge the doubts which we yet entertain of its adj
vent, against the positive declaration of those who
assert that they have seen evidence of its pres
ence.
But, be it the Asiatic cholera that is here or not,
came it from atar, orsprangltout of the dlsordered
and extraordinary state of the atmosphere, there is
IL disease in this city resembling the malady which
has been so called-a disease which runs its course
in a few hours, and which has terminated fatally
III several marked and notable instances. Wheth>
er these have been aggravations of the cholera NOR
bus, common to the country, or presentations of a
foreign and peculiar disease, it matters less to know
than how to guard against its attacks.
Up to half-past a o'clock last evening, twelve
cases had been under treatment in the Charity
Hospital. OF these, seven had died and five were
yet under advice. OF these five, one was in a dy-
ing condition. This is a fearful mortality for so
limited a number of patients. But it must be
borne in mind that in this institution the number
of deaths in proportion to the number of admissions
is, from obvious causes, greater than in private
practice. Several cases of sudden illness and
death in the First and Second municipalities have
been popularity attributed to the cholera. Some Of
these are ascertained to have been violent cases Of
cholera morbus, aggravated by gross imprudence;
whilst of the twelve cases in the Charity Hospital
only three Of the six patients admitted yesterday
have any of the marked peculiarities Of the Asiatic
form of the disease. OF the twelve cases admit
ted into the Hospital only two-a man and a wo>
man-were from abroad. The remainder were
citizens ofthe county. There is no to sup
pose that the two foreign cases had any agency in
producing those which occurred amongst our own
citizens. Indeed the better opinion appears to be
that the cholera which obtains here now is epidemlc,
or in other words originated here out of a morbid
state of the atmosphere produced by unseasona-
bic weather. We have been informed that the
Board OF Health, though divided IN OPINION as 10
the real type of the disease, would have reported
the existence of cholera had not the members been
convinced that it grew out Of local causes which the
prospect of a change in the weather promised
to remove. At another time seven deaths in
the Charity Hospital would nothave made this stir.
n II Nine cases out of ten of those who perish
ofthe cholera falla prey to their own fears rather
than to the proves of the disease. When this
disease fist appeared in the United States sixteen
years ago, its approach to our shores revolutions
zed the mode of life ofthe whole country. Strange
diets were substituted for foods which custom had
made needful; and indictments were employed
to prepare the system for an aggressor, as though
a condition of perfect health was not the best con