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

II ready and near, may be used with benefit;
otherwise vaPor bath may be prepared at
home thus:-Heat some stones or bricks,
and over them place bedstead with net
ted bottom, upon which let the patient be
stretched, well covered; then throw The vim
egar upon the hot stones, whence steam will
arise conducive to prespiration, aided by
the frictions, which must not be discontinued.
For want of this vapor bath, place around
and in contact with the patient bags of heat
ed sand or ashes.-Observations: During
the present epidemic no applications have
been found so eficacious as strong frictions,
either with the naked hand, with cloth, or
with brush, using clean tar or some other
irritant. The essence Of peppermint may be
used more freely than heretofore prescribed.
Great care must be observed during conva-
lescence, for the cholera is but too often fol-
lowed by typhus fever"
/ would also refer to the still more particu-
lar instructions Of the Irish Central Board Of
Health, circulated officially on the lst Sept.
l84S, which were as follows:-
OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE TREAT
MENr OF CHoLERA.-The Dublin Evening
Post contains the following highly-imPortant
circular, which has been issued by the Irish
Central Board Of Health. This well-timed
document, drawn up by Sir Phillip Cramp-
ton, Sir Henry Marsh, and DR.. Corrigan,
explains the reasons of the Board of Health
for proposing very important change in the
modes heretofore adopted for meeting the
disease. Instead Of getting up hospitals on
u great scale, with all the delay and con-
fusion consequent on such extended opera
tions, the circular proposes medical attend
ance on the poor in their own houses, or at
dispensaries open day and night to all COM
ers; and, where hospitals are required for
them at once into all the ordinary hospitals
of the country. Another and valuable fea-
ture in this circular is, that it contains plain
directions, in simple language. sufficient for
several hours treatment, in order that time
be waited for.
The language ofthe circular is, as it ought
to be for such an object, and at such an
emergency, reasoning, practical, and plain,
in order that there should be no room for
misconception or for groundless alarm; and
its great Importance induces US to give it
without abridgment:-
"As there seems reason to apprehend that
cholera may again, perhaps within short
period, reach this country, the Commission
ers Of Health deem it advisable to submit,
for general information, the following obser-
vations in reference to the epidemic, and to
the measures proper to be adopted in the
event of its temperance in this country.
s'The Commissioners Of Health are anx-
ious to impress upon all persons the impor-
liant difference that exists between cholera
and fever, with respect to the mode Of proPa-
CATION of these epidemic diseases. Fever, it
is well known, is highly contagious, or easily
propogated from one individual to another,
while all experience shows that cholera is
rarely, if ever, contagious; consequently, the
separation of the sick from the unhealthy
measure so essential IN checking the spread
Of fever-is not required in cholera, and the
friends and relatives Of persons attacked with
cholera may be under no apprehension Of
catching the disease, and need not be deter
red from affording to the sick, in their own
dwellings,, every needfll assistance and at
tention.
"This view of the subject has an import
ant bearing upon the measures to be adopt
ed in meeting visitation Of cholera. In
contending against epidemic fevers, it has
been found necessary to maintain large hos
pital establishments for the purpose of pre-
1 venting the spread Of the disease by infec-
ton, and Of affording to the sick those atten-
tions which are so often required during the
tedious recovery from fever; but the case is
different with respect to cholera, and the
C Commissioners of Health, after mature con.
s,deration, do not advise that cholera should
be met by an extended system of hospital &C.
commodation, such as is needful in epidem.
les of fever, but recommend, in preference
a general system Of prompt and efficient
dispensary relief, for the following reasons:
"l. That cholera being rarely, if ever,
contagious, there is no risk Of infection, as
in fever, in leaving the sick in their OWL
dwellings,, or in receiving them into genera
hospitals.
''2. That an attack Of cholera being usu
ally so sudden, .nd its whole duration 81
snorf the delay necessarily attendant upoI
}, the removal Of the patient to hospital may
BILE for treatment.
''3 That the medical treatment for chol
era, being much more simple than that o
fever, can be efficiently conducted at th'
dwellings, Of the patients, and the required
, assistance to medical II eatment can be as ef
d fectively given by the families and friends o
the sick as by nurses in hospitals.
~. That recovery from cholera not being
, ordinarily followed by prolonged debility
(such as attends on fever), patients on thei
|, recovery from an attack of cholera do no
generally stand in need Of the same length
! ened hospital attendance as fever patients.
, "The Commissioners of health do not
however, advise that, in the event of the ap
pearance Of cholera. hospital relief sboul'
! be altogether dispensed with, as there is al
) ways, particularly 10 cities, large class o
, destitute persons who have neither friend
\ nor the means Of support, and to such per
I sons efficient relief cannot be afforded ex
cept in hospitals. The non-contagious char
. acter of cholera fortunately removes all oh
Il lection to the receiving Of persons suffering
. under the disease into the ordinary hospitals