Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-03-01
THE CHOLERA.


perceive that the authorities of several of the lead
ING towns of EngaIi and France have already a
dopted such preventive measures as have been sug
gesied by past experience and the advice of tn
inUst eminent medical men. Thus far the Ameri
can public and authorities have done nothing
The scourge is yet remote, and but little alarm has
been excited. Sooner or later, however. we may
anticipate It's arrival on our shores. What ther
should be done in the meanwhile? Would it not
be wise IN the nation at large, through its repre-
sentatives, 10 appoint medical commission of the
highest character, with the object of visiting the
scenes OF the disease, ascertaning the best proven
yves as well rs remedies, aud of returning home
at the earliest moment for the purpose of dissent
hating among the people at large, the information
that may thus be collected In France commits
Sloners have already been sent TO examine the ma
ture OF The disease. the best mode Of treatment SC
we believe also that during the last visit Of chole-
IA TO the American continent. medical commission
ers were appointed by several of our leading cities,
anu their labors were attended with the most bene-
ilclal results. The present, therefore, is the time
To act. a correspondent of the London Times,
VINO says that during the visitation of this dreadful
maady in 1882, lie paid great attention 10 the
cause, mode of propagation and check of the pest
fence, gives these as his conclusions
1. 'hat the canse OF cholera Il pulrij animal
poison, capaSe oil being recognised by the smell by
some, enanating from and surrounding the dead or
living cholera subject, articles Of clothing
< That 1t is not Sulphuretted hydrogen or
hydro-suphuret OF ammonia. as it does not dccom-
pose salts OF lead zinc, and when passed through
nitrate OF silver, IT only forms red solution when
exposed TO light.
). That it is only received into the living body
through the lungs, and cannot be prOpagatod by
incubation.
4. That infection can be conveyed by articles of
clothing, bedding, &c; and that washerwomen
are more subject to infection than ordinary persons
from that cause
o. That all persons are not equally liable to in
lection from equal exposure, and even the same in
cumsauces
D. That the poison is destroyed by chlorine gas.
and heat oil BOO degrees Fahrenheit
lie says further that the only chemical proven
tive which ne depended upon in his numerous ex-
posureS to the virus was chlorine gas, and this he
believes 10 be a perfect one, when the f,migation
is complete. He says:
II invariably passe through an atmosphere Oft
on my return home, and kept it escaping in my
residence during the continuance of the disease in
the city. also placed large quantities Of the sub
hands OF 4 Bristol druggist, who was kind enough
10 distribute 1900 quantities of it gratuousv tc
applicants during three days, with instructions for
the use-and am happy 10 say, that during that
time the deaths fell from ten to one per day; and
have but little doubt that il every ship. arriving
in England from an infected place. should be eX1
Il.
shall be preserved from the infection. IL the dis
ease should pass this GORDON by any accident then
every house in the infected district should be 81.
simultaneously fumgated with it-say three times
day. Unless done in all houses at the same time.
1t would be useless, or nearly SO and to do il on,
iectually, mixture of three parts of common salt
and one OF black oxide Of maganese, should be pla-
ced gust inside the outer street door of the dwell
ling house, and little common vitrioI poured up
on 1t: The inward current OF air will convey the
chGrIhe gas to every part OF the interior and
wherever it can be smell the effect is Produced
the masm is destroyed Ifartcles of clothing are
Injected, and the colors Likely be injured by the
gas, they may be heated, in oven or On n kiln,
10 25O or 800 degrees (above the heat of baking
bread,) when they might be handled or used with
perfect impunity."
We may add that the writer is William Hcra
path, a celebrated chemist OF Bristol, England
Dr. Dickson, In his work entitled tine PRINCIPLES
OF the Chronothermal SYSTEM OF Medicne,'' argues
that cholera viii be found 10 par;ahe of the Same
universal type Of disease. the ague While in In
dia, he had ample opportunities of discovering this
Cholera, lie thinks is extreme ofthe cold stare
Of the ague, and with regard to remedies, he SAYS
Attention TO temperature comprehends every
thing that has ever failed or succeeded. Were |
myseirto become tho subject Of H. should feel in
ciIned TO trust more TO bottle of brandy than any
thing contained in The Matera Medica While
serving III the East Indies. | saw many hundred
cases Of the disorder, bat never could cohvince
myself OF the superiority Of any kind OF active
medical treatment over another lnmy work upon
! the diseases Of India, have proved that death in
the great minority of instances OF cholera takes
place from palsy Of the pneumo gastric nerves -
those nerves that influence the functions of the
: lungs and stomach. If You divide these nerves III
/ the dog, You have the essential symptoms of cho-
era, VIZ {: loss Of voice, vomiting cnd difficult
breathing H,'cayS,-cramps and latulence frequent
~; and the animal seldom surviving the Third dav
On dissection you find the vessels of the head
lungs, and intestncs, filed with black blood -
That Is exactly what you find on opening the DO.
! dies OF persons who have died OF cholera"
/ writer in the Boston Atlas translates an art
Gle from French paper, in the course Of which
the following counses and directions are piven -
Should the cholera appear, do not be afraid
live comfortably, cultivate literature and the fne
arts, avoid tiresome people, beware of all sorts ~
contradiction and irritation. amuse Yourself as
much as possible, beware Of extraordinary excite
ment-in brief, keep rs cool, rs calm, and as self
possessed as you can"
During the late session of the State Medical
Convention at Albany, DR.. Mccall presented a
preamble and resolutions in relation 10 the appear
ance OF this dread epidemic which concluded by
asking the appointment OF committee of Two 10
memorlailZe the Legislature on the subject Drs
McCall and Bay appointed such COMMITTEES
NV YoEK Police SYsTEM.-Tho new polic5
system OF New York city, proposes to employ 1000
watchmcn; a day police Of 30 men and 100 mas.
shas, 10 serve civil and criminal processes. and 10
attend upon the courts; 500 watchmen 10 remain
main duiy each night-25O until ndnirbt and
23O from midnight until morning. The city is 10 he
/ divided into nine watch districts, each with can