Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1850-11-30


sons affected with cholera, the admission of
the country would be attended with salutary
moral effects. 1t would greatly lessen, ,ifnot
quite remove, the generalIy-prevailing aP-
Prehensions respecting the highly-contagious
nature of the disease, and would thus dis
pose the friends and relatives Of the sick to
be more active and constant in their atten-
tions; the sick themselves, no longer treat
ed like persons stricken by pestilence,
would acquire confidence, and with conf
dence a strength that would enable them the
better to struggle with the disease.
MATURE OF THE ArrACK.-It seems to
be a well-established fact, and one that can
not be too strongly impressed upon the minds
Of the people generally, as upon this fact de-
pends the best mode of successfully contend
ing with the disease, that in nearly all cases
of cholera there are two stages of the disease,
the first being merely diarrhea, or simple
looseness of the bowels; the second being
the stage of collapse, or blue cholera, mark
ed by cramps, failure Of the circulation,
lividity of the skin, cold clammy perspiration,
and all the other well-known symptoms Of
the disease. In the first stage of the disease
in the second stage too often Of no avail.
"The first stage, diarrh@a, or mere loose
ness, Of the bowels, may be of only few
hours duration, or may continue from one
to several days. 1t is most important to
bear in mind that this diarrh@a may be en-
ltirely without pain; indeed, 1t most frequent
ly is without pain, or merely accompanied
with trif1ing gripping or uneasiness. This
absence Of pain, or the little accompanying
uneasiness, has too often thrown the patient
off his guard, who has thus neglected the
warning of his danger, and has allowed the
time for cure to pass by.
"It'may be safely ssserted that during the
prevalence of an epidemic Of cholera, diar-
rhea, or looseness of bowels, which is free
from pain, is more dangerous, more likely to
be the first stage ofthe disease than diarrhGa
accompanied with gripping or pain. Let it,
then, be clearly understood, that when the
epidemic is prevalent, mere looseness Of the
bowels, with or without pain, may be the
commencement or first stage Of cholera
that the disease is generally durable in this
stage, and that not moment should be lost
in applying for relief.
s'To afford this immediate relief, the Com
1
existing medical institution. whether hospital
or dispensary, should be open day and night
during the prevalence of cholera, to all ap-
plicants. without distinction, where all who
apply should obtain, without moments de-
lay, advice and medicine; and from which
all the poor, who may be unable to leave
their dwellings, may be visited with prompt.
tude, and supplied with medicine at home,
or transferred (ifrequisite) to the hospital.
"To effect these objects, the following
arrangements are recommended
81. The prescribing room of every medi.
cal institution, whether hospital or dispense.
ry, should be open day and night without
intermission during the prevalence ofcholera
and a medical officer should be in constan
attendance to prescribe for all applicants.
SO. Each hospital and disPensary shoult
have a certain district allotted to it, and ths
T attending porter or clerk should keep bool
lin which he should enter the names and res
Iidences of all applicants for relief within ths
district who are unable to leave their homes
The book should show the time ofapplicatiOn
and the name and residence Of the patient.
;. "3. A second medical officer should b
constantly in readiness to receive the name
Of all such applicants, and to proceed, with
out delay, to visit them. The visiting ply
sician, instead of writing prescription a
the residence Of the patient, should be pro
vided with a small portable pocket medicine
. box, containing the medicines most generall
, required, made up in such form as to rem
|der their administration as speedy and a
simple as possible Such portable medicine
! boxes can be procured at very small cost
or may be made up on an emergency, o
pasteboard, or thin board, or tin, in the form
lof a book, about seven inches long, sou
| inches broad, and one inch deep, with one o
the sides to fold back, or open on hinges
The services Of az apothecary will be requir
ed to keep up constant supply Of the med'
iiciEes for use. The medical officers will gen
i orally give formula for the medicines the.
Imay deem besl. The following may, howev
Ier, serve as an example Of what should b.
, lsenerally provided in the pocket medicine
, boxes. The most portable forms for tn
, medicines are selected; the directions shoul
as far as practicable, be printed.
"PowDERs.-Carbon Of ammonia, i
waxed papers, each paper containing fort
f flgrains, with the following printed direction
. on the outside this powder i
half-a-pint OF water; give TWO taDie-SPoohiuI
: every hour -,
I Compound powder Of chal
with opium (Pulv. Crete Opio, in packet
: each containing six papers, each paper con
: tanning ten grains Of the powder, with print
: ed directions:-'One powder every haif-hou
I until the looseness ceases
"PILLs Of powdered opium, each contain
ling one quarter of grain Of opium, and tw
grains Of powdered ginger, made up with o
: Of peppermint. The pills to be IN boxes
4 each box containing six pills, with printe
: -Iabel:-'Opium pills, one every half-hou
{ until the loosness ceases
3 "PILLs of mercury and opium, each con
: |taining one quarter Of grain Of calomel
: two grains Of Hydrargyrum Creta (mer
: curry with chalk), and a quarter of a grain Q
opium, made up with oil Of caraway (whicl
! will serve to distinguish them from the plan
5 opium pills), in boxes, each containing 81
/, I'm. ,,;,h !. nr;o4od laheI.-fMercury an