Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1849-07-21
TALE OF THE CHOLERA.

correspondent Of Ahsworth's Magazine
relates the following incident as having fallen un
der his own observation. ltposse.ses particular
interest at this time. as showing the imporanca
OF quiet mind and the absence Of all excite.
ment during the prevalence Of the cholera
Al the time of former visitation of cholera
TO these shores, our regiment lthe-;h) was
qnarered at NJ, one Of the places visited
with the utmost severity by the fornlidalle dis,
ease. We had lost few men, and not an officer
had been attacked, when one evening, after mess,
the conversation turned upon the nature and dan.
gers Of the pestence, at that time believed by
many to he contagious. Our surgeon had just
returned from aharrassing course Of duties, which
had detained him from mess until long after the
dinner hour, and he was rccounling 10 us, during
the interval othis hurried repast various anec.
dotes Of the cases he had lnsi quilted.
He had been with one Of The resident physi.
clans into the quarter chiefly inhabited by the
poor weayers connected with the manufactures
OF Nj, aud bis account Of the suffering Of
these poor creatures, of the misery they cn.
dured-miscry always keen, aud doubly agera>
waited under present cifcumstances-wa truly
hcartrcndng
"Ah," he said, "what is most unfortunate is
is that these poor pcople are SO terrified, believe
half ofthem die of fright. In many instances
they flee from the house containing their dying
friend or relative. They refuse to assist in bear.
ing the body to The grave, aud literally kill them
selves by The nervous state Of agitation 10 which
they excite themselves and each oihef."
"llow foolish that is y exclaimed Percy, a
young officer who had but lately joincd--a fine
young fellow, handsome aud gallant; chow fool.
ish that is /! cannot see what there is to fear
in the neighborhood OF the disease. Depend up.
on it, we are as safe with die cholera raging
around, as though il were still shut up in the
marshes of Asia We may die Of the cholera,
il is true, but thai will be because such IS our
fate, not because we happen 10 be near some
half dozen others who die Of cholera"
III is astonishing, Percy" answered the sur.
geon, show great is the influence of mind over
body. believe could mlk any man into the
conviction that he had the cholera and probably
talk him to death if persisted in agaling him.
Percy laughed abound.
"My dear fellow" he said, ''you NAV talk
yoursclfdumb TO me you will never persuade
me into any complaint wha'cver,"
"fou are too rash, Percy" inierposed tho ma.
lor, stern old veteran of some fifty ycars-Bar.
ton ny aame--"you are too rash, Percy; you lit.
lie know the power ofnervous impression, or rath
er you affect to despise what you really feel.
can see you now shrink from close contact with
with Doctor NJ, because you know he has been
all day with cholera patients
Percy Redeemed at this accusations, sltiugiug
to his feet, placed himsefclose TO The doctor.
"Indeed, you mistake" he exclaimed; II have
no fear Of The kind
Oh don't think it necessary 10 conceal i,n
continued Barton, laughing as he spoke solder
and wiser men than YOU, Percy --oder and wis.
er, and as brave--have shaken in heir shoes al
the approach Of the cholera"
"l'ut am not shaking in mine" relolted Per. |
cy, reddening still more "what can make YOU
think so tell you have no fear of contagion,
none whatever. | do not believe the disease il
contagious, should not mind" he continued /
striking the table vchemcnlly as he spoke--"I
shouldnot mind sleeping ia a bed wherein cho. |
era patieat had died within few bonrs.''
"Ncll, /" laughed Barton, with his low, peculiar
laugh, 1t Is easy to talk this way, but YOU would
be sorry il we offered 10 put you to the proof"
Indeed should not be sorry Put me 10
the proof and will sit up all night in the cholera
ward in the hospital. come, doctor, you are
going there now will accompany yoa, and |
will remain there too. will act a. nurse tothc
worst patient. Noonc shall say shrunk from I
The proof"
"You need not do ~ much, Percy" answered
Barton, again; do only what you yourself Offer
edeto do, sleep in the bed Of cholera VICTIM
Quartenmaster Smith died four hours ago, and the 4
bed in which he died is vacant. Come, can
easilyprocure you nights lodging therein"
Poor Percy saw aim turn pale, and he
raised glass Of wine 10 his lips draining it at
q dranght; but in a moman his courage return.
ed, and he rose with a smile ofgay animation.
u am ready, Barton; come along. Good
night-good night" and he wayedhis hand bur. I
riedly to the doctor and myself
| confess was little pleased al This arrange.
mept but look d Intelligence which perceived
passed between Barton and the doctor. somewhat l
reassurcd me, and roae 10 accompany Percy 10
his unenyiable resting place. Barton pteccdcd
us, and we waited some moments al The door al
the quarters OIL poor Smith, while he parIeycd
with some one inside. This concluded. we Ell. I
tered and Percy took possession Of his bed room.
We remained until he had denudcd himself
oil some Of his garments, and had actually retired
between the sheets 81 the formidable couch; then
we LEFT him, repeating good night, while Bar.
ton sneeringy informed him that he might con-
slider his penance ended ii any hour after two III
the morning, i being then eleven o'clock.
II lsno prnance to me, persisted poor Percy,
speaking from a mass Of bed-clnihes; but Barton
drowned Tho continuation 81 the sentence IN q
loud laugh, and closing the door, VIC finally re-
treated.
AZ four in The morning we were awnke BY
Pcfcys servant, who sat upin tho same building,
although not IN tho same room with Ills master.
lie came to inform Us that Percy was dangerous.
IL III Of cholera.
Ono by one we rushed from our bets, and
hurried 10 the apaHmeatd our c0mrade. The
doctor was already there applying qilthegfemcdius
II his command; but Percy was evidently very i'll.