Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-05-30
FROM THE HARRISON REPUBLICAN,.
CHOLERA ASPHYXIA, NO. I

I -
Our Country has been revisited BY that extTaor
binary disease Asiatic Cholera, by which il was 8
severely scourged in 1888, and if reliance is 4
be placed IN the reports which daily reaching
us, ITS present progress is marked by degree oil
mortality, which far exceeds anything known In
tho annals or the former epidemic. The fearful
maligniy it has thus far exhibited and the rapidity
with which IT has advanced invest the subject with
the deepest interest," and we consequently find our
public Newspapers teemiDg with speculations and
theories as to its mysterious origin and nature, and
with recommendations of various preventive meas
uIes, as well as particular modes of treatment and
specifics Where is, therefore, every reason to be-
iieve that the minds of those whose peculiar prov
ince 1t is to grappe with this fell destroyer are ac
uVeIy alive upon this interesting subject, and this
mass OF mind requires only TO be dsabused Of false
impressions; to be recalled from the erroneous paths
oy which It's Investigations have perhaps been pur-
sued, and thus unfetered by prejudice to be point
cd IN tue true direction 10 arrive eventually at the
most satisfactory results. Under circumstances like
theSe, IL Is alike duty and privilege TO canvass
reey the opinions and theories which presented
70 the public upon this any similar subject, and
10 present any others which may be supposed to be
calculated to contribute in any degree the attain
ment OF the great object; more perfect knowledge
OF It's etioiogy and pathology.
propose then first TO examine some of those doc
trines which have been taught and which are moot
generally received in relation to Cholera and to
state the objections to which consider them obnox-
ous, and subsequently 10 present respectfully to
the attention of the profession the conclusions TO
which my own mind has been led, together with
the process of reasoning from the phenomena of tho
disease and the facts disclosed by Microscopic in
vestigation, by which conceive those conclusions
to be authorized and sustained
While am by TO means disposed TO under value
or depreciate In the least the importance ola prop
attention 10 those measures of preparation such
as cleanliness, ventilation, &C., which have been
(and should continue 10 beg so srenuousy urged up-
on the public attention, and while doubt not, tina.
In this way much may be accomplished towards
mitigating the violence of the disease, still con-
celve that candid examination of the recorded
facts Of It's past history will fully justify the
ton, that the most assduous attention to these pre-
eautohary measures, can at most secure only par
tiai immunity from its attacks. If on the other
hand we look at the frghiful mortality by which
the present epidemic has been characterized, which
may safely be estimated at rs yer cent of those at
tackled, will DO forced to admit, that the expert
ence OF former epidemic has thrown but little
light upon IFS appropriate present treatment. 1t is
an undeniable TRUTH that the number of remedies
tor disease will always be in proportion its in
durability and the obscuriy in which it is involved
and the uumheress modes OF treatment and specifics
which are daily presented afford but TOO conclusive
evidence OF the facts, that are still totally gno-
rant OF the nature OF the agency by which so many
and various conjectures have been offered and O.
qualy ignorant, notwithstanding all the pralsewor-
thy, seitsacrlflclDg, laborous research bestowed
upon it by the Medical profession, of its primary
seat, nature, and proper treatment. No happy ac-
cident or coincidence like that which led the mind
of the luslrious Jenner, conceive the fortunate
idea OF the prophylantlc power Of the Kline Pock,
has as yet or is likely TO occur and The science in
her now enlightened state is left for the attanment
OF that knowledge Of the origin seat and nature of
tho disease, which only will constitute substan-
ilal foundation on which can be based any rational
and successful treatment, to reliance upon the dill
igent and laborious employment of the multiplied
means OF investigation now at her command.
That Aslatic Cholera is the product of specific
poison acting upon the animal organism, is gener-
ally admitted, ana with the exception of the purely
fancI;ul notion of its anlmacular origin disordere
ga!vanlc action is the only other agent to which
have seen it ascribed. AS to source from which
that poison enanates, whether it be of n.iasrnatc
atmospheric, teiluric planetary origin it is not my
purpose TO venture even an hypothesis, though
propose III the sequel to present certain views of il
nature and moduS operandi
A writer in the Baltimore Clipper of the 9TH
OF December over the signature of Gulielmus. rep
resenis the human organism as most perfect Gal
VanIc apparatus and adopts the conclusion of Doc
, tor Wilson Philip, that nervous energy and Elec
tfici;y are Identical. The secre.ions from the mi
cous and cerous Surfaces represented one being
alkaline, the other acid the opposite poles of Tho
Battery, the Brain and spinal chord being the res
ervors, In which the electricity generated is col
leced, and thence it is supposed to be distributed
to each organ of the body rouse it to action anf
preserve j. in the regular and continued perform
ance OF lis function. This doctrine as am aware
Is iayorlte one with many and it certainly pos
Sesses no little FEASIBILITY. II strikes me however
that II Is clearly obnoxious the very forcible OF
rather fatal objection that it represents electricity
as at the Time beth cause and effect Ner-
vous energy it is said, is essential 10 the perform
ance ofevery function, in other words vital action
These secreilons from The mucous and Serious sur
faces will be recoectcd regarded as the opro
I site poles of the Battery, and we are not allowed
tc look beyond these for any explanation Of vital
p phenomena; their opposite action either upon each
other or upon the eXlremtes Of the nerves or fer-
vous expansions, is the first link OF the extended
chain Of vital actions it is in fact the principal vi
t1, the principle of life, the great motor power of
the organism. But the secretion of these fluids
whose action is essential to putting the machine in
motion, is Itself functional act, requiring for its
performance supply Of nervous energy or eleciri-
g city. 1t is one to- which could not be performed
without the performance ofvarious other functional
acts, each requiring supply ofeleeiricity. Unless
supply of blood is distributed TO those surfaces up
on which they may act, it is clear they cannot Sc
crete their appropriate fluids, because there is no
other source from which TO derive them. In order
to their receiving such supply, the heart and ar
teTies must DC reused TO the performance of their
function, the function of Hemotosis must also have
been performed, and various other functions all re-
curing supply of electricity. The inference which
the writer would seem 10 deduce from tho animal
organism being regarded as a perfect Galvanic APP
paratus, is that health and disease are only the re-
suits of the more or less perfect equilibrium in the
state Of those fluids, between the actions Of the
surfaces by which they are secreled. But admit
,,r 81.