The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-18
WASHINGTON, d. c., January, ls49.

SIR As that dreadful scourge to the human family the
cholera, may be approaching vicinity the prnc
pies OF humanity call for all the facts IN relation TO its cause
and For eighteen hundred years past, medical men
and philosophers have all been heozing on the causes
of contagious and infectious diseases IN vain As yet,
no definite has been established and the cause OF
cholera remains mystery. Ii was my privilege to be IN
Europe 1881 and 32 and among the cholera during lis
whole course over the continent; and from the vast
number OF cases saw and treated, had great held
open 10 Tor practical observation and from that ex-
lensive opportunity have 10 the following con
illusions As TO the cause and cure OF cholera lhe
cause OF cholera, and all other contagious or infectious
diseases, believe TO be in all and under all CIR
cumstances, produced bya universal law OF nature which
obtains IN all matter, both animate and inanlmate, VIZ:
! the law OF equalization. Hence when more than an
equal quantity OF matter becomes animated with lie, a
reaction takes place, and disease is the necessary
principles omeaphysics reveal to us the fact that
there in man and all the animated kingdom OF nature two
inherent principles, both nborn-a preserving and de-
sructve principle. And if it not for the first, we
could exist and if moi for the latter should never
cease to exist here earth Both OF these principles
are therefore necessary, conformity TO that sovereign
law OF nature which positively demands continued
change in all the forms OF matter, both animate and mani
mate DIR. Jackson very truly stated in his lecture not
long SINCE that he had observed where there were the
most children born there were the most deaths among
children This fact susains my theory OF the cause OF
cholera, showing, it does, the strong tendency
4 there is in nature equaliz cation; and have
abundant proofs in ali the phenomena of natures ope-
rations OF the continued changes which are con.
stanty going in all forms OF matter, by the way OF
The nlods operand OF all the synthetic and analytic op.
eraons all before This ebbing and flooding of
life. and by its vast increase, has direct tendency to use
UP the elementary principles BY which life is sustained by
absorbing of the gases, and thereby destroying
the equilibrium of health. The four cardinal principles
OF life are probably the four potent agents OF cleo,
/ rciiy, Galvanism, magnetism, and mesmerlsm and
when all these properly balanced there is tre
mendous production of life, which continues to in
H the saep ws a nss ny
OF disease in these times OF such great productions OF
life, millions on millions of invisible animalcul@
a momentary life, and these, beyond any doubt in my
mind are the proxilnate cause of cholera Dr. Darwin
in his Temple OF Nature, tells he discovered, by his
magniiying glasses, these little anlmalcula in numbers
birth. whole duration OF life, DEATH, and decomposition
all in the short space OF one day What an amount OF
pulreiaeton would be produced in this way, and how
contaminated must the atmosphere become in two
three days time, when this process was going on. In
confederation of this theory know the fact that the
cholera travels through the country soournng only long
enough any place TO select its victims So with these
myrads of insects anlmalcula-they spring into exist
ence, as were IN moments one generation following
another in such rapid succession, that after few days,
weeks most the race becomes entirely extinct In all the
ships coming here this season, the cholera broke out
board the middle OF the ocean, showing they came in con-
tao. with an infected atmosphere, which prevails on water
Hence am led to believes that where the cholera prevails
there the is at the same time The cause and effect
travel in company always. We know that by the laws
of attraction and cohesion particles OF matter brought
together and, by the aid OF fight and heat, become ANNA
ted and anized But the most important part of
subject 10 De winch the cure
cholera shall have only time and room to describe the
main principles to be attended to. Most other diseases
terminate IN death, but the cholera very often commences
in death; and when that is the anything like
is out of the question. think lives can be saved
by prophylaclcs than by remedies after the disease has
commenced. AS preyentiyes, would advise cleanl
arties in diet and drinks, Danish all fear indulge
in lively flow of cheerful spirits, laugh and grow
fat, keep about your business as usual and be sure
to keep your bowels regular. II they are costive,
open them by gentle aperent; If loose, check
them with the following mixture: Two ounces pare
goric, two ounces tncture rue forty drops OIL Of
lrachms prepared chalk-all put in one VIAL and well
shaken before used. Dose one teaspooaul every two
prevailing, carry camphor in your pockets lay 1t about
the rooms; fumgate your houses with the fumes OF sui
phuric, nitric, and muriac acids, clorde OF lime throw
around the rooms the salts OF ammonia, and the liquid
form of the aropatcs &c. All nurses, physicians
and all those coming in contact with the sick of choera
should take table spoonful of good brandy, mixed
found much better to keep the action little above
the healthy standard, than il was to suffer it to fall be-
low. am quite sure, from actual observation, that
correct in this 1t enables the system TO resist the
disease. and often valuable lives have no doubt
but that half the OF cholera might be prevented by
a strict attention to all the rules have laid down; and
Of those who attacked, twice many could be
cured which would diminish the number of deaths to
one quarter This would be great saving of human
life, and worthy of attention Of all There is great
objection TO all the different modes of practice recon-
menled by different physicians and persons when they
ton in the cure of cholera which to equalze the
ton of the system and produce perspration
possible Therefore, all calculated to produce
that effect should be used with unccasing perseverance
g. until accomplished. And whatever other remedies
are used, this main indication should not be lost
sight OF for one single moment Hence the nipro-
prety and injury of recommending particular individ-
ua remedies. They call off the attention from the only
course which can ever bad of cholera-that
of cquazng the action of the system. and producing
perspration When person is attacked with cholera
all the functions of the system suspended calome
OPIUM camphor red pepper &C., only tend to restore
one function each Therefore it will be fatal to depend
on either of these remedies, all of hem for they
not arouse the action of the whole SYSTEM and restore all
the functions to their healthy condition. This alone can
be done by equalzng the actions and producing perspi
ration; which be done by all the agents combined
together for that purpose All individual remedies should
be considered only auxiliary. have used sugar OF
lead and opium to restrain copious excavations with the
best effect The gavanic battery good also electricity
and heat and all kinds of external rritants.
Yours with respect,
. HARTWELL CARVIS, NJ d.
or We lay the preceding communication before ou
readers the request OF our correspondent. We viii
not vouch for his theory of the of cholera There
may be something in his ures.--EDrroR.
o Senator Hnnnegnn.
IL H. l. e A-f Al IL