The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1849-07-21
A TALE OF THE CHOLERA.

A correspondent Of Ainsworth's Magazine
relates the following incident as having fallen
under his W observation. 1t possesses par
ticular interest at this time, as showing tho im-
p~ortance Of a quiet mind, and the absence Of
all excitement, during the prevalence of a dis
ease which is even now in our midst.-LiterGry
american
Al tn. time of a former visitation Of cholera
to these shores, our regiment was quartered at
NJ, one Of the places visited with the ut
most severity by the formidable disease. We
had lost very few men, and not an officer had
been attacked, when one evening, after mess,
the conversation turned upon the nature and
dangers Of the pcstilence, at that time believed
by many to be contagious. Our surgeon had
just returned from an harrassing course Of du-
ties, which had detained him from mess until
long after the hour of dinner, and he was re-
counting to us, during the interval Of his hur-
ried repast, various anecdotes of the cases he
had just quilted.
He had been with one Of the resident physi-
clans into the quarter chiefly inhabited by the
poor weavers connected with the manulacto-
riesOf M, and his accounts Of the suffcrings
Of these poor creatures, of the misery they en-
~dured-misery always keen, and doubly aggra-
waited under present circumstanCes--was truly
heart rcnding.
tAh,' he said, what is most unfortunate is
that these poor people are so terrified, believe
half Of them die from fright. In many instan-
ccs they fee from the house containing their
dying friend or relative. They refuse to assist
in Beating the body to the grave, and literally
kill themselves by the nervous state o. dgita-
ton 10 which they excite themselves and ench
other:'
SLOW foolish that is!' exclaimed Percy, a
young officer who had but lately ioined--a fine
young fellow, handsome and gallant; show
foolish that is! / cannot see what there is to
fear in the neighborhood Of the disease. De-
pend upon it, we are as safe with the cholera
raging around as though it were still shut up
in the marshes Of Asia. We may die of the
cholera, it is true, but that will be because
such is our fate, not because we happen to be
near some half dozen others who die Of Ohol-
era.'
sit is astonishing, Percy' answered the sur
geon; how great is the Influence Of mind over
body. / believe / could talk any man into
conviction that he had the cholera, and proba-
bly, talk him to death if / persisted in agitating
him. t
Percy laughed aloud.
my dear fellow he said, you may talk
yourself dumb to me; you will never persuade
me into any complaint whatever;
You are too rash, Percy,' interposed the
major, a stern old veteran Of some fifty years
Barton by name--'y you are too rash, Percy
you little know the power Of nervous impress
sion, or rather you affect to despise what YOU
really feel. / can sec you now shrink from
close contact with Doctor M, because you
know he has been all day with cholera pa
tients.' ,Hs .f
Percy redeemed at this accusation; ant
springing to his feet, placed himself close tc
the doctor. aa .o-,
'Indeod, you ndisIako,' he exclaimed; have
no fear Of the kind.' 3
ooh! don't think it necessary to conceal it,
continued Barton, laughing as he spoke; tOldei
and wiser men than you, %Percy--Older nnt
wiser, and as b~rave-have shaken in their shoe
at the approached the cholora.j
But am not shaking in miHe,' retortet
Percy, reddening still more; 8 what can max,
you think SO? | tell you | have no fear o
%ContagiOn, none whatever. l do not believ,
that the disease is contagious. 1 should no
mind he continued,' striking the table vehe
mently rs he spOke-'I should not mind sleep