The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-03-09

feeling that. as the epidemic Cholrra is rN-
pcctcd to visit us soon, the community may
naturally look TO them for advice aud cui-
dance, have deemed it proper to appoin, a
cholera committee, to consider " hat mea-
snres it Is cNpcdient to adopt, with a view
Of preventing the spread of the disease, and
of Otherwise mitigating It's evils. The
committee thus formed have, il obedience
{" the requests OF the association, drawn up
the following remarks aud instructions for
the information Of the community.
lst. The cholera appears 10 have been
very rarely communicated by personal in
tCr'our>e, and all attempts To stay It's pro.
crrss by quarentincs have failed.
From these circumstancesth committee,
without EXPRESSING any positive opinion
with reference To its contagious or non con.
tagiouS nature, agree IN drawing this pIac-
teal concluSl"n, that III district where
cholera prevails 40 apprccablr increase of
danger. Is incurred by mini>icriug to per
sous affected with it, and No safety afford.
ed 10 ihe community 10y the isolation Of the
>Ck.
Dad. The disease has. almost invariably,
produced the grlveSt effects ia the damrr>t
and most filthy quarters Of the town or dis.
tIict it has visited.
The committee would, her, fore. most
earnestly urge upon the authorities Of This
village the rroptcty Of taking immediate
steps To improve the state of the drains: tu
cover mp the pools in our streets: aud 10 re-
move all collections Of vegetable and ami
NAL matter from the vicinity uf dwellings,.
They would also impress upon individuals
the importance Of well yrhtilatinr their
rooms, aud of cleanliness Scrupulous clean.
Illness, both in their dwellings and persons.
I'd. \ state of debility and exhaustion.
however produced, increases the liability to
cholera.
The committee, therefore, recommend
Ia all persons, DUNG the prevalence Of the
disease, to live IN the manner they have
hitherto found most conducive Ia health
avoiding iutcmpcrance ui all kinds. and cs.
pccia'ly the iuordlnatc use Of ardent >uitit>.
and other intoxicating beverages. \ >ul,i.
cheney of uouri>hIug food, warm clothing.
and speedy change of damp garments, re-.
u'ar aud sufficient sleep, and avoidance Of
excessive fatigue or long fasting, and of cX-
pu>ure To atmospheric vi,ciS>ituLcS. more
particularly at night. are importau, means
Of promoting nr maintaining good health.
and thereby alurlIus protection a:ains, the
cholera.
The committee are If opinion that a rca-
>1nlblc use Of we'll cooked vegetables. and
Of rlpe or preserved fruits, i, necessary.
with most people, for the maintenance If
health. \ want Of these. 1t is feared, will
produce that ll-conditorcl state of the
system, which in it, highest decree. is
known a. >curvcy, and thus render person,
the reader victims Of tins '.pe>tiici,ce that
wa keith emphatically il the darkne>Sn
The committee likewise think il not ad,i>
able tn prohibit The use oi pork or bacon, or
OF sailed, dried, or smoked meats or fish.
rs these articles of diet have not been pro.
ven tn exert any direct influence in causing
the disease. Nothing promotes tie >prrad
of epidemic ailments 80 much As want of
nourlshlncnt aud the poor " i'll necessarily
suffer this want, if they are led 10 abstain
from those articles OF food on which, from
their comparative chcapne,S, they maml,
depend for suSienaucc. Onthe whole, the
committee advise persons TO adopt that plan
OF diet which they have generally found to
agree with them; avoiding merely such ar
tcIcs Of food aS experience may have taught
them will he likely to disorder the stomach
aud bowels.
ith. The committee are unable TO recon-
mend any Uniform plan of treatment 10 be
oi"i'"I -. all ,">~. 80 lnnsanes. or tho bow.
els, Composed TO be a premonirory syu,.
tom Of cholera.) i, is doubtless very inn.
I portaniihat such ailments should be prnmpi
~ attended to, but since they NAV arts.
from various causes, of the serious nature
Of which medical imam can alone be aware.
the committee deem it safer that per<ops
afflicted with them should apply at once for
medical assistance, than tina, they should
lndlscrlininatvly use, of their own accord
or at the suggestion Of unproiessional prr.
sons, powerful medicines, in large and lre.
qucnly repeated doses Should the deranre.
nent ofthe digestive apparatus br accnnpa.
niedw ith feelings ofeXhauStiOn and chilliupss
the person should, Of course, be placed in A
warm bed, and the usual means of rcstor.
ing warmth, and vigOr 10 the body, be as
,iduou>ly employed until professional adj
vice could be obtained.
9TH. In conclusion, the committee would
urge on the rich, who have comparatively
little TO fear for them selves, the great du,y
II generously, and actively mini>tering 10
the relief of the poor while the epidemic
prevails; bearing in mind that fuel aud
warm clothing, and sufficient nOurl,hment
are powerful safe guards against the di.
Sease. They deem il most desirable that
the proper authorities should at once i'm
prove the diet and increase the comforts Of
the poor under their charge; and that the
wealthy should form societies for the sun.
ply Of food, clothing, and fuel to those who.
though not paupers, still need assistance in
such emergency. Such measures which
it is the duty Of those possessed of power
and riches Ia adopt, would, the committee
believe. if literally carried ont, deprive the
cholera af half its victims.
All Of which is respectfully submitted.
l.. A. GtILBERT, NJ. ID.
J. STOUT, VI. ID.
j. PEARSON, NJ. ID.
Committee.
The report was read to the association at
its meeting, on NJ onhay the 9TH inst, was