Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-06-06

uted to the various organs, &ere is arrest Of the
process of transformation or combustion, and conse
auently cessation U? the development of animal
heat.
Third.@'rhe blood TO longer in a stne to impart
to tie heart its accustomed stimulation, the action
of that organ is of course enteebled, and that fluid
being in state which would greatly increase the
diilunY D; lis propulsion through the arteries pre-
sci most OBVIOUS explanation of the usually
oppfgIgo nate OF the pulse, and its, sometimes. to
tai imperceptibility in the eXtremies But 1t is
unnecessary TO proceed further with these explana
tons. Examine the entire group of morbid phenom-
ena which the disease presents, and perhaps no SIN
gle one will be found in the least incompatible with
the conclusion that the circulating mass is the seat
of the primary action of tho mor5tic cause, and the
change effected by the in the vital fluid, the
first link i'm that chain Of morbid phenomena.
If the blood be indeed the PRIMARY and chief seat
of this malady it is clear that morbid anatomy
Shed but little additional light upon Its mysterious
character Morbid anatomy has revealed long cata-
lopue oflesions ofthe solids all totally insufficient;
TO explain the variety and myseriousness gifts phe-
snomena and it is to examination of the fluids
we must now look for a revelation Of the required
truth upon This interesting subject. The mem
orable saying Of Bichat, ''that every exclusive
theory whether of humorism or of solidism, is Il
pathological absurdi,y," is worthy of being ever
unwso to strive TO ascertain what share each of the
two great elements Of all organization bears in the
production and maintenance of disease.
The analogy existing between the morbid state
in which the blood is found in this disease and that
in which i; is placed by the action of certain chem
cal substances sufficiently indicates the nature OF
the morbtc and The mode Gifts action upon the
economy 1t is then, certainly, TO the aid of organ
c chemistry that the professional attention must be
directed for the discovery of both the morbic agent,
and It's appropriate antldo'e and efficient remedial
arents Had the same amount of labor been be-
slowed upon the investigation OF the fluids, which
has been employed in observing the equivocal and
uncertain morbid changes in the solids, there is a
bundan reason TO believe that some certain, useful
knowledge of the disease, Of practical importance,
would long since have been acquired.
At convenient time may, perhaps offer some
further considerations in support ofthe foregoing pa
biological views, and also some observations upon
their practical application in the treatment OF the
disease. JOHN EDMONDSON.
NorE-Dr. VIM. Anderson, of New York City,
In his third communication published ill the Week
ly Universe, upon Cholera, after stating that du-
ring the epidemic of 1882, he had many opportuni-
ties of making post mortcm examinations, goes on
TO say: .and on one occasion, upwards oi dozen
bodies were subjected TO the inspection OF number
of medical men from neighborng cities, when the
appearances dissection were uniform III the several
cases All the organs SO free from the disease,
that the corpse had the sembance as the Individual
had been summoned from state of perfect health /;
there signs pre- ersting inflammation, no
adhesionS, no formation Of matter. no engagement
trgcsence Of uessels; IL was as Rthe person had
died in state OF perfect calm,-as if death had
made its ravages without Cooperative excitement
of organic structure. In these inspections, howev-
or we discovered most remarkable phenomenon,
all which fully corroborated the sage remark of NJ
NIagendie stha, this disease began where all others
ended, viz: in Death ''In dessectionS usually
we find as the last vital effort the arteries, with
the left venrice of the hear,are emped completely
of their blood, and which is rendered to the veins
This led the ancents believe that the arteries
for the purpose of transmitting air through the sys-
tenn, and hence their name. But in all the Choe-
ia cases. the inverse was the case; the veins were
empty and the arteries retained their blood as well
as the left yentrcle of the heart. The quantity OF
this blood was much diminished, 20 doubt from the
previous frequent discharge of lymph and serum, by
the vomiting and darIhea, rendering the character
OF this blood grumous, and resembling tar Here
then nature was unable in her last convulsve effort
of life, to empty her arteries, which she does, as
far as have SEEM in every other case of disease;
sUih Ills and no other sign Of disease, cases Of Chol-
era must in the first instance, hyae commenced in tie
deprivation of the vital principles in other woli The
disease commenced in DEATH"