The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-06-29
I'teraA9otif
Revelations. ON oholsrs -. cause. and

R.vslas,on. ON cholsrs! =. cause. and
BY Samuel Dickson, NJ d., formerly medical officer
the British staff in Indis-jonder Of the Chrome
thermal system Of medicine Edited BY VIM. Turner
M. d., er-health commissioner Of .Nac York, .Ne,e
York H. Long & Brother, W. H. Graham, l649
This is a valuable little work by the celebrated
DIR. DICKSON, author ofone the most entertaining
medical books that ever fell within the scope of our
general reading, entitled "The Faliacies Of the Faeu
IT," II is edited by his friend and disciple, DR.
Turner, of New York, who is industrously
gagged in introducing the Chrono-thermal system in
this country.
DIR. DIcxsoN was regularly educated in the schools
of anatomy a surgeon, and as regularly took his
diploma as physician; he practised both branches
Of the profession an army surgeon, serving on
the medical staff in India, and administered for
years the usual routine remedies for the usual dis
eases, with the usual success and 1t was precisely
this success, with its long continuance Of deases,
the fewness and slowness of its complete recoveries
and the number of its deaths, that continually
forced upon him the question, Does medicine, as
taught in the schools deserve the name Of science?
And after long and careful observation, he was led
the conclusion, that the teaching of the schools
is science; that it too often takes the partial
results of disease for hes disease itself, overlooks
the most important phenomena of vitality and NOR
tality, and takes some single result Of drug a
proof of its sovereign efficacy.
He wrote the Faacies to explain what he calls
the Chrono-thermal system of medicine, with
view of proving the science of medicine, as taught
and practised, as little better than random net
work Of guesses; and the work has passed through
FIVE editions in this country, as many in England,
and has been translated into French, German, and
Swedish. His book has won him the usual need
of those who'set up for reformers. He complains
that it has been alternately abused, plagarized and
misrepresented; the system itself secuted quack
cry, and without acknowledgment adopted and
practised. We extract from the introduction few
paragraphs, which we commend to the notice of
our readers:
1t is perfectly notorious, that comparatively few
of those who are in vigorous health, or who have
opportunities of occasionally breathing fresh coun-
try air, or who live in good houses, and are no
over worked, nor over nor under fed, nor crowded
together IN sleeping nor duuiCleu 10
temperance are attacked by cholera. If defcen-
CIV Of electricity in the earth atmosphere, any
disturbance of the currents of that all-pervadng IN
fuence, bring on cholera, by depriving us Of our
vital electricity, and parayzng the nerves that
give life TO the lungs, stomach, and other vital
cera it still certain, that by far the greater
Der are enabled to withstand the deprivation dis
turbance, whatever 1t may be- Instead, therefore,
OF perpetual apprehension al the approach
neghborhood of cholera, there should be the most
active exertion made by every one to get into the
best condition to resist and they must be very
few indeed who cannot succeed in insuring their
own safety, if they will take the trouble and prac
tise sufficient self-denal.
OF all protectives against cholera the most efec-
tual is a clean skin, which fortunately the number
of private baths, and the public baths and wash
houses, enable every one to have al great cost,
and with very little trouble.
To preserve the skin in such cleanness assures
its perfect tone and health II is not sufficient 10
battle occasionally, or even once week; the en-
tire person should be completely washed every day,
and that for the very reason that makes most per-
sons think il unnecessary-because are close
ly covered by our clothes. On that very account
the pores of the skim which may be called the vital
safety valves, cogged by the deposltes of the
lnsensible persprauon.
Doubtless many persons will be utterly astonished
at the idea of having to wash all over every day.
For them it is quite trouble enough to wash face,
hands, and much else seen above their
dress 1t is better, however, TO take this daily
trouble than be trembling from day to day
at the thoughts of cholera. And, after all this dai-
ly publication Of the skin is such difficult mat
ter The best and easiest way Of accomplishing II
is 10 have coarse sheet, partially wrung out Of
cold water, thrown the person, and to rub,
not with but over the sheet briskly for five six
minutes, and then to rub dry with a sheet
or towel as the skin can comfortably bear. Those
who adopt this practice, who even rub AL over
every morning night with well-wet towel, will
learn, from their sensations Of increased vgor,
spirits, and general comfort, that even so simple a
process may be a powerful resistant 10 disease.
Those who fancy that IL would be impossible for
them TO bear the touch Of cold water, can dip the
sheet towel in warm water but If they a
warm sheet they should have dry one thrown
them along with the wet one, and be rubbed
both, that they may not feel chilled by the
rapid evaporation of the warm water.
Next in importance TO keeping the skin clean Is
occasional change Of air, which the railways make
sufficiently easy 10 the great majority. So long as
II pleases the authorities TO make what the Tunes
most Justly calls a churned stagnant pool Of the
Thames, and to poison what should be a source Of
health, by pouring the whole drainage Of the mil
lion population Of London into the nver we cannot
recommend the metropolitan population to seek the
Inauguration Of pure air upon the Thames.
II the working classes object, that either Of these
measures OF protection too expensive for them
we have but TO reply, that for the most part the
sums spent in gin-psaces and public houses IN in
creaslng the tendency to cholera, would be more
than sufficient accomplish the above powerful
means Of prevention. IL is also important to avoid
crowded, ill-venuated sleeping apartments, and II
should be borne in mind that night is the period Of
greatest liability to attacks OF cholera. There car
be no doubt that, the system Of model lodging.
houses extended as its complete success so fai
proves il might be- the victims Of cholera would bs
greatly diminished, merely by the increased com.
fort, healthfuness, and cheerfuness Of a resdenc,
in such apartments.
IL may be taken proved fact, that cholera u
not caused by any pestilent exhalaton II does moi
rise from ehoked-up sewers or cesspools, or open
stagnant drains or the chuning Of a oitys filth up
and down it's rivers but each and all Of these de-
biliise, and dispirit, and weaken the power Of re-
sistance 10 disease Under such circumstances, tbs
healthful alterations Of motion and temperature arr
in the condition mos, easy OF disturbance and mos
liable 10 be upset by the conditions, whatever they
NAV be that give rise 20 the endemic Of the day.