Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-07-19
DR.. Cartwright on Cholera.
New ORLEANS, May IA, 1874

just been received. In reply to your inquiries,
whether the symptoms the present cholera agree
with those of 1888, answer, they do. The dis
ease is the same-the same symptoms, and the
same variety ofsymptoms observed in the epidem-
ic Of 80 and 49, are found in the present. The
symptoms vary in different places, and often in the
same family some have cramps, others not
Most of the cases commence by diarrhaa, and a
few by vomiting and diarrhoea at the same time
some rapid in their progress, others slow. In gen.
eral, there is feeling Of indisposition when the
diarrhea begins.
1t is only after the system has been robbed of
much of Its watery fluids by the diarthea, that the
sinking sensation commences-just as in the loss
of blood The patient is thus lulled into fatal
security because he does not feel sick, and thinks
that he has only premonitory symptoms, which
king it for granted that the disease has premoni-
tory symptoms, requiring milder or different
treatment from the disease itself.
The disease consists in a pouring back Of the
contents of the absorbent vessels into the alimen-
tary canal, and iltering of the watery parts of
teries. Before the diarrhoa manifests itself, the
disease has begun. The absorhents or some of
them have poured back their contents, furnishing
the serous or rice water matter that is thrown out
by the diarrhea. How erroneous then to call the
diarrhea premonitory symptom, when it is ac-
tually secondary effect of prror diseased ac-
ton, of the disease ITSELF &
To cure the cholera cito, tato ct jucunde, this
pouring back process must be arrested. Astrin-
gents, opiates, stimulants, &C., may check it for
a while, and nature may re-establish the natural
course of the circulation in the absorbents but
there is no security that she will do so unless the
fluids be determined to the skin and the liver put
work. When We act on the skin by inducing per-
spiraton, we make the absorbents ofthe alimenta-
ry canal hungry for fluids A sucking up instead
of pouring back action is established in them.-
The disease consists in the latter action, and is
cured at once by establishing the former. Fluids
in the body or out of it cannot run in opposite di-
rections at the same time. Hence diarrhea from
a retrograde action of the absorbents must stop
as matter of necessity when the natural course
of the circulation in the absorbent vessels is res
tored by inducing perspiration. The perspiration
should be supported by diluent drinks, until we
have time to bring the liver into play.
The liver is torpid in Cholera. When the liver
acts, the natural course ofthe abdominal circula-
ton is restored. But until the abdominal circula-
ton through the liver is restored, we must act on
the skn We cannot act on the liver and restore
the natural course of the circulation of blood
through it, under six or eight hours. The disease
often kills in three or four. But we can act on
the skin in FIVE minutes, which will answer every
purpose, and give US time to act on the liyer.-
How can we act on the skin and actually cure the
formidable Cholera in so short time, is the ques-
ton. ] answer that by stimulating sudoriic
cholagogue formed upon the basis ofthe ceebra-
ted composition of ancients which the experience
of two thousand years has proved to be eminently
successful in cold congestive affections-a COM
position where the pungent aromatics, anti-spas-
modics and slow purgatives are brought into hap
py union.
My composition differs from the ancient prepar-
alton in having only one kind of pepper instead of
three, one anti-spasmodic, the camphor, instead
of many, and one slow purgative, the chalk mer-
curry, or calome, instead of the drastic vegetable
cathartics used by the ahcients. 1t is composed
of2o grains of chalk mercury, (Hydraryrum cum
creta) or English calomel, 90 grains Cayenne pep
per, 10 grains gum camphor, Is grains calcined
charcoal, and the same quantity gum arabic. The
above united constitute dose for an adult. 1t is
best given in two table spoonsful of cold water.
1t should be swallowed at once without stopping
to taste it. 1t generally causes sweat to break
out in the stomach bowels and extremities, with
little sips of hot camomile, sage. balm or mint
tea or chicken water. Then when the sweat COM
mences, all that Is necessary is to support the
sweat by drinking freely of wafn teas or chicken
water, until the purgative part Of the composition
has time to empty the gall bladder ofits atlabious
contents, and to enable the blood to circulate
through the liver. The heat to assist the above
powder in causing sweat, may be applied to the
extremiies, in the shape of bottles filled with hos
water, and to the stomach and bowels, by jack
ct or shirt wrung out of scading water and rolled
into ball as large as a chld's head wrapped 10
dry flannel
AS soon as the powder is swallowed, napkin
dipped in cold water, should be stuffed into the
mouth 20 take out the taste and to prevent vomit
! ing. IL instead of sweat, flushing of the face
and heat Of the skin be caused by the hot appl
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