Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-06-13
FROM THE N. Y. COMMERCIAL. ADVERTISER.
A SPECIFIC FOR CHOLERA.

10 Il. II. n.
A SPECIFIC FOR CHOLERA.
In copying the annexed communication from the
Chicago Journal, 1t would be maniiesty improper
to express any opinion upon the merits of the dis
covery there made public. We leave that for those
who have the requisite medicafand scientific knowl-
edge, which alone can'give value to an expression
upon The theory advanced. There is something,
however, in the tone Of the letter especially in the
concluding part which leaves pleasing impression
upon the mind. from the evident abseHce Of any de-
sire To force the convictions Of the writer upon 9TH
ers OF the medical profession, until actual expert
ments shall have established The correctness of the
theory advanced.
We have the evidence of gentleman of this city
of the high standing of DR. Bird, as man of scien-
tific attainments and the Buffalo Commercial Ad-
vertser also certfes to the same effect. The Chi
cago Journal in its Introductory heading to the COM
munca,ion says that "the excitement caused by the
discovery has been heightened by the success has
met with in cases where almost every citizen has
beheld or experienced its effects, in the premoto-
~ symptoms of cholera"
Editor ofthc Chicago Journal:
Dear Sm-In compliance with the request oriy
friend DIR. j. H. Bird, i have made the following
brief synopsis 81 letter from him. sent 10 me for pub
llcalion in the North Western Medical and Surgical
Journal, which together with few additional re-
marks which have made, you will please rabs,,,
In order that the members Of the edicap6fesson,
and our citizens generally, may have the means Of
testing the benefits TO be derived from what is
supposed to be newly Dissolved remedy f0r chol-
era.
The facts stated in Inc letter referred to above,
! are briefly as follows:
About six months since, Dr. Bird and myselfwere
led into conversation upon the effects of atmospher
&c Influences in producing epidemics, from reading
an article from German chemist, in one Of our pc
rlodicafs, In which il @as eon,ehded that influenza
depended upon the presence Of ozone, and that the
severity and number of the attacks, as shown by
chemical analysis was always i'm proportion TO the a
m6irnt Of This substance in the atmosphere Taking
this statement in connection with the fact that chol
era is generally preceded by infuenzas shown by
It's history, we Were led to the conclusion that both
diseases might be dependent upon the same nlu-
ence, modified in degree according TO the greater or
less quantity OF this deeterious agent present in the
atmosphere at this time. The next step in The in
vestlgatlon was to determine what agent would
rouutcract the Influence and destroy the deleterious
properties of ozone. The accurate chemical knowl-
edge ofDr. Bird enables him to suggest at once the
well known substance sulphur as possessing the
property Of acting upon it in such manner as to
neutralize its influence.
In searching for facts to support this conclusion it
was found that cholera had never prevailed in the
vicinity OF sulphur springs, in situations where
this substance abounds hence the conclusion, that
sulphur might be, and probably was, the an,do,e
for cholera.
In one of our recent medical journals, an article
appeared describing the method of detecting ozone
m the atmosphere, thus supplying tlie means of de-
termining whether not it present at the very
time when cholera was beginning TO make lis ap-
pearance among u.s.
| Dr. Birds experiments, as well as those made
| subsequently by himself and by Drs. Bird, Blaney
and myself, from day TO day, sice that time, show
that 0Sone is present in our atmosphere, and that
the amount Is In proportion TO the severity of the
disease from time TO time. About week since Dr.
| Bird determined TO try the effects of sulphur upon
himself and others troubled, as nearly all have been
more or less of lae with uneasy sensations, slight
pains, &c, in the digestive organs
L he result was entirely satisfactory, so mich so
that Dr. Bird came Immediately 10 my Office and
requested me as friend to test its efficacy in my
practice, but 10 say nothing others with regard 70
the Ingredients used unit, facts should justify its
public announcement as discovery. The benef-
cial effects resulting from lis use in my practice
were such as TO convince me at once of It's utility in
the class OF cases DESERVED above During the last
few days Drs. Bird, Blaney and myself have con-
tlnued TO use this apparently simple remedy 10 the
exclusion of nearly all others in all cases with chol
eric symptoms. The result has been wonderful
All the pfemonitory symptoms, such MS pain,
sense OF iullness, unnatural movements, slight dar-
rhGa, &c, have uniformly yielded at once to \ sin
gle dose OF three to four grains of sulphur.
In cases where either cramps, diarrhGa or Tornit-
ing have been present, and in fact where all these
symptoms have existed in conjunction, the use of
sulphur, the above named doses every three or four
hours, has had the effect to emeorate the PATIENTS
condition at once, and when used in a few hours, to
disSipTe entirely clioferic symptoms
So far as lis efficacy has been tested in the worst
stages of collapse, most satisfactory results have
been obtained. In two or three cases of the kind
the effect OF the remedy has been to bring back
pulse TO the wrist restore warmth 10 the surface
and stop the profuse diarrhea and vomiting In
truth the results obtained far have been such as
TO convince all of us, who have administered it., and
witnessed lis effects, that if any remedy deserves
the appellation, this is the specific for cholera.
1t having been determined to make this public
statement, is expected in return that hasty con-
illusions will be made, either for or against what
appears TO be proposition to accomplish much by
very simple means. Although the results, So far as
obtained, in short time, and by few individuals,
seem 10 Justify conclusion, it is hoped that ply
slcans will continue to depend on what they con-
slider the most efficient practice, in bad cases of
cholera, until they shall have tested the matter
themselves, and formed their own conclusions; and
also, that whatever be the confidence of individuals
IN this or any other remedy, they will not depend
upon their own judgment in any case, even ofsight
symptoms, whenever il is possible 10 consult their
physiciati.
It is suggested by DR.. Bird that combination
with powdered charcoal one part to four of sulphur;
has seemed to make the remedy more efficient
w. b. HERRICK,
Ed. n. w. Med. and Sur. Jour:
| CHAs. l.. WILSON, Ed Chicago Jour-.
*Ozone is technically the OF air sfodhd an
| lcctrical machine.