Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-11-25

4
infection.
Appearance and Course Of The Cholera in ST. PetersJurgh
The fist ntmaiion of the cholera approaching towards ST.
Peersburgh the of the banks of
The Lake Laoga and OF the Nevs, which issues from and
which large number Of the barges bringing merchandise from
the interior for expectation descend ST. Petersburgh every
spring. The disease reached 81 Peesburgh the begin
ming OF june One solitary had occurred about six
weeks previous in of the military hospitals the died
in twelve hours and both the symptoms during life and morbid
appearances after death decidedly those of Asac cho-
ea. The number OF in the first week small hut
nearly all died. Among these Of the
Prince OF Odcnhurg, who attacked after eating supper
of cucumhers and salad Both died of them in
fifteen hours the other in about four days The disease
creased rapidly the second week. appearing in every quarter
OF the ciy chiefly among the poor but attacking also
belonging to the better classes both natives and foreigners
II continued the increase until the fifth week, when it
seemed to have reached its and began 10 decline both
in the number and severity II the and, according
the public last received has continued steadily on
the decrease. .'.
Symptoms Of The Disease. @.. Il.
The disease assumed distinct forms or stages one o.
which was generally characterized by increased action Of
the nervous and sometimes Of the vascular SYSTEM together
with great arrangement of the digestive organs the other by
prostitution OF the nervous and circulating functions and
greater or less rapid sinking Of the vital forces In certain
proportion Of the disease passed through both these
stages presenting many varieties, according to the combna
ton and Predomnance of the symptoms, either of excitement
prostitution In Others the period Of excitement alto
whole Of The disease. The morbid principle which
the poxmae Of the disease excited thus in
imperfect reaction, followed by prostraion
whilst in others itseomed completely depress and paaze
the powers of life that the patient sunk without any effort
whatever of the constitution reaction. ..
1t has been already stated that the first attack almost
invariably preceded for Or several days by slight de-
rangement Of the digestive functions The stage Of excite
usually ushere in by shivering gdnes and great
fsiuness face dusy and sunken nausea painful cramps
the stomach bowels and exremi,ies; vomiting and
purgng heat in the epgssun and oppression of the chest
This state succeeded by degree of reaction, with
increased and vomiting, and very copous excavations
from the stomach and bowels of thin fluid resembling rice
waer these excavations completely wanting both in
hillary and focal matter, well free from any offensive
SMELL The paoxysms Of spasns in the exremes and bow
els became generally very attended with great
Iesessness and aniness, and the countenance
sse of intense anguish The pulse feguent hard, SMALL
the heat OF the skin sometimes ebe but frequently not
above the natural Standard only partially increased the
tongue ufred generally moist and red and the thirst intense
These symptoms, which usually observed in personsof
robust constitutions, after lasting from about six twenty
four hours succeeded by the period Of prosraton
cold stage. ..
In the stage of prcaton there great and rapid sink
of the general strength and depression of all the functions
OF organic lie, those Of the brain alone being only partially
impaired and the intellect remaining clear though weakened
Thus the whole surface Of the body became cold MARBLE
and covered sometimes with claumy moisture the pulse
treeiy feeble and oen'mpercepbe the face sunk and he
features contracted 10 (somenes nearly half their natural
Ceep their sockets, surrounded
dark circle and the pupils generally daed the checks,
hands feet and nails assumed eaden blue purpsh color
and likewise though less degree the entire surface Of the
skin, whose functions seemed completely parayzed One
markabe phenomenon the sudden collapse Of the soft
parts OF the body, the effect necessarily of all the vessels being
nearly empted OF their fluids and Of the rapid absorption OF
the adpose substance, that patients reduced
times in twentyfour hours perhaps onehi of their
previous size. The skin Of the hands and feet shred
up the violence Of the cramps usually diminished though
always, and they limited chiefly the hands and feet,
which often remained contracted after DEATH The vomiting
and darhsa also less urgent the tongue moist,
aby and cold the respiration hurried else slow and
much oppressed, with frequent deep signing; the breath cold,
the voice painye and reduced almost whisper. There
heat oppression, and anguish in the epigasTum
and about the heart which regions all the suffering
eed considerable resessness, thist intense very
scauty to he nearly suppressed Patients this
sinking expired sometimes suddenly without ssgge, and
almost while in The act Of speaking prese wing entire
Of their mind to the last, and the pulse having ao
/ ed Ia beat many hours before death
The duration and severity OF these stages OF the dis
varied greatly according the age strength, and pre
OF health OF individuals. In the largest proportion
of cases. and especially 10 the old in those whose consttu
inpairedby bad food previous disease, in hab
tua drunkards and delicate children, the symptoms Of
csmsnt only slight, and often altogether waning.
The disease 10 few set suddenly, with great ptos
ation, terminating in death without any reaction, in the
course Of six eight hours. This its malignant
and appalling form, well designated by the French, Cholera
odoyant. There sometimes very little vomiting and
darhGa IN such cases. the prominent features being
ton and cramp.
When reaction took place. either spontaneously by the
Of remedies this did always terminate restoration
TO health but the cholera often succeeded by various
forms Of secondary disease the frequent Of these
typhus fever between the ccngesve stage Of which, and
Of the morbid arrangements Of cholera, there is cons
d,rabe analogy.
Gac fever and dyseniery were slso Of unusual
curencs; and there Of sub
Several persons fell victims the cholera st. Peters.
bugh consequence Of having anseress the rules OF dict
essential during such An elderly lady, having
salad supper, taken III next morning. and died Of the
cholera IN eighteen hcurs Gen. Chambeau private secreta
~ 10 the Empress. q gentleman advanced IN life having
caught chill by ucanous exposure to cold wind board
steamer, seized with dsuh1a and symptoms Of sink
ing the evening, and died in about eighteen hours
lady Of high station setting defiance the cautions against
fruit INDUCED freely her wish for strawberries she sud-
denly taken very i'll Of the cholera, and her life 10 the
greatest danger though hopes entertained Of her
~ when left st. Petersburgh. frequently heard OF per-
being attacked, and long their lives after committing
mErudencc IN diet II il important remember that
many things which agree with person in ordinary times
may disagree during the prevalence OF such disease the
cholera consequence Of the increased susceptibility Of the
bowels The disease brought in others ly fear the
Of respectable bookseller returned from college TO his
family in good health for The vacation June lie became
the breaking Of the cholera that he could
not lie prevailed Of the house, and objected
the windows being opened for fear Of letting the
lamins;ed air Afer time he suddenly seized with
the disease in m most malignant FORM and died in about
twelve hours