Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-06-06
Thee Cholera.

The "National Intelligencer," contains
etter written by Doctor Goodlett, an old
md experienced surgeon in the army, and
to Gen. Taylor. We know moth
ng as to the truthfulness of his theory in
elation to cholera, but the letter is one Of
interest, and we therefore publish it: |
To MAJ. Gen. Taylor, President Of the
United States:
Sir: I have the pleasure Of communica-
ling to you, and, through you, to the diff.
ferent heads Of Departments, to the army
and navy Of the United States, and also TO-
all foreign diplomatic agents at or near - :
seat of our government, my theory of choi-
era, and successful practice founded upon
that theory. l am the more disposed to
give you an abstract of my theory and
practice, at this time, OF that disease, as it
is taking off hundreds, not only in other
countries, but in many parts of our own
country. l shall limit my observation to
single letter, yet | fatter myself ] shall be
understood
That the disease is conveyed in the at
mosphere, there seems to be no reason to
doubt, or that it is waited In currents.
There is as little reason to dispute that it
attacks those who are predisposed to it, by
their containing in their system matter or
air of similar nature with that floating in
the atmosphere. We find the negro more
subject to it than the white man the
white man more than the white woman.
The negro has more nitrogen and less oxy-
gen about his person, than the white man
It is this superabundance of nitrogen (which
[ take to be nearly allied to the remote
cause of cholera. By its effects ON the skin
it produces relaxation of the intestines,
and retrograde motion of the lacteals and
lymphatics, and particularly the thoracic
duct, which is always found empty in post
mortem examinations. When the relaxa-
ton of the intestines takes place the aerial
matter is first discharged, and and then
comes the chyle and lymph, which are
| thrown on the intestines in the form and
| appearance of rice water, and SO out. We
now perceive the reason why there is no
bile in the discharges, there being no new
blood out of which to secret bile-as, also,
being always found drawn up in knot
| There is no new blood sent to the kidneys,
out of which to make urine: the disease is
indeed flooding away of the white blood,
| (if may so call it.) If am correct, we
see a mistake that has heretofore been made
| in looking to the liver as the cause of the
disease, or being in fault, as an excuse to
give calomel to goad the liver into action to
secrets bile, when it has nothing sent to it
| out Of which to make it. The same may
be said of the Kidneys; they cannot be
charged with being at fault in not supply
ing tie uirary bladder With urire as
there is no urine in the urinary bladder, that
new blood is sent to them out of which to
| make urine When all the foul matter is
discharged, then comes the rice water and
in few moments collapse takes place.
Then we are told that the patient is beyond
the reach Of the curative plan.
say, not so; we now give asiringents,
say one grain Of opium and four grains of
kino every half hour. To Children we
give strong tincture of cinnamon, sny
teaspoon(u or SO every half hour. This
tinc.ure should be made out of the bark.
We then strip the patient and throw the
coolest water we have over the whole body,
hastily wi pc dry, and but into blankets to
be allowed to sweat; give him or her lit
tie well boiled corn meal Cruel The cold
water coming in contact with the nitrogen
on the body it forms a neutral; the cramps
are instantly dissipated, and the regular
circulation returns; the patient is cured
The cold clarsmy feel OF the skin, called
sweat in the collapsed state, is not sweat,
but condensation of the hydrogen of the
atmosphere; the black and blue appearance
is the air pressing on the surface Of the skin
on the muscles, which are deprived of the
lymph or wa,ery parts Of the blood.
have already accounted for there being
the great thirst. That is owing to the ex-
hausted state of the system; the same is
seen in persons bleeding 70 death, the call
for water; and hunters tell US that the deer
and other animals when wounded, run for
water. If we are asked how we account
for the cramps, we answer, it is by the
sudden subduction of life through blood. -
The same is sen in the bullock slaughter.
ed by the butcher; it is not the small wound
that is made, but the drawing of the blood
suddenly. give in such cases cold drinks,
or allow my patients to eat ice.
In 1888, [ published my theory and
practice, first in paper and then in book;
and subsequently | had opportunities put
ting my theory into practice, ard proved
it successful beyond all doubt.
With the highest respect, am sir,yours.
A. &. GOODLElT.
Late Surgeon 7,h Reg. u s.Infantry.
WAsurNGroS, May 3, 1910.