Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-08-02
New ORLEANS. Nav ID. lS49.


ness
New ORLEANS, May IA, ls49.
Your favor Of the 9th of pril has Just been
received. In reply 10 your inquiries, whether
the symptoms of the present Cholera agree
with those Of Is 33, / answer, they do. The dis
ease is the same-the same symptoms, and the
same variety of symptoms observed in the ep-
idemic Of '32 and '33, are found in the present.
The symptoms vary in di fferent places and Of
ten in the same famiy-some have cramps,
others not Most of the eases commence by
diarrhoa, and few Dy hitting and diarrhoea
at the same time; some, rapid in their prog
ress, others slew. In general there is no feel
ing of indisposition when the diarrh oea heginc.
1t is only after the system has been robbed
Of much of its watery fluids by the diarrhea,
that the sinking sensation commenees--just as
in loss of blood. The patient is thus nlled
into fatal security, because e does not feel
sick, and thinks that he has only premonitory
symptoms, which may end in cholera or not
The error lies in. taking it for granted that the
disease has premonitory sym ptona-, occurring a
mIlder and different treatment from the disease
itself.
The disease consists in pouring back of the
contents of the absorbent vessels into the ali
mentary canal, and filtering of the watery
parts of the blood from the extremities of the
capillary arteries. Befor: the diarrhaa mani
tests itself,the disease has begun. The absorb.
ent some of them have poured back their
contents, furnishing the serous or rice water
matter that is thrown out bv the diarrhea. -
How erroneous then, to call the diarrhoea j pre-
monitory symptom, when it is actually Secon.
Diary effect of prior diseased action, of the
disease itself.
To cure the cholera cito, TITO ct jucunde. this
pouring back process must be arrested. Astrin-
gents, opiates, stimulants, &C., may check il for
a while, and nature may re-establish the natu-
raj course of the circulation of the absorbents;
but there is no security that she will do so, un.
less the fluids be determined TO the skin and the
liver put to work When We act ON the skin
| By inducing preparation, we make the absorb
ents of the alimentary canal, hungry for fluids.
A sucking up instead of pouring back action
! is established in them. The disease consi9ts in
the latter action, and is cured at once by estab-
fishing the former. Fluids in the body or out
of it cannot run in opposite directions at the
same time. Hence diarrhea from retro
grade action of the obsorbents must stop as n
matter of necessity, when the natural course of
the circulation in the absorbent vessels is re.
stored by inducing perspiration. The perspra-
ton should be supported by diluent drinks, un-
til we have time TO bring the liver into play.
| The liver is torpid in cholera. When the
! liver acts the natural course of the abdominal
circulation is restored. But until the abdomi-
nal circulation through the liver is restored, we
must act on the skin. We cannot act on the
liver and restore the natural course of circula-
ton Of the 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 liver. How can we act on
the skin and actually cure the formidable chol-
era in so short time, is the question. l answer,
that by a stimulating sudorihc choagogue
| RIrtnod Upon the basis of the celebrated compo-
sition of aucents, which the experience of two
thousand years has proved to be eminently sue
cessful in congestive affections-a composition
where the purgent aromatics, anti-spasmodics
and slow purgstives, are brought into ha ppy
| union.
NY composition differs from the ancient pre-.
paration, in having only one kind of pepper in
stead of three, one anti spasmodic, the cam
phor, instead of many, and one slow purgative
the chalk mercury or calomel, instead of the
drastic vegetable cathartics used by the an
clients. 1t is composed of 20 grains of chalk
mercury (Hydraryrum cum creta or English
calomel, 20 grains Cayenne pepper, 10 grains
gum canphor, 10 grains calcned charcoal, and
the same quantity gum arabic. The above
united constitute dose for an adult. 1t is best
given in two table spoonful of cold water. 1t
should be swallowed at once without stopping
to taste it. 1t generally causes a sweat to break
out in the stomach, bowels extremities, with
| little sips of hot comomle, sage, balm, or mint
tea, or chicken water. Then when the sweat
commences, all that is necessary is to support
the sweat by drinking freely of warm teas or
chicken water, until the purgatlve part OF the
composition has time to empty the gall bladder
atrabiliOus contents and to enable the blood to
circulate throug Oh the liver. The heat to assist
the above powder in causing sweat, may be ap-
piled to the extremties, in the shipe of bottles
! filled with hot water and to the stomach and
bowels, BY Jacket or shirt wrung out of scald.
ing water and rolled into ball us large as a
chids head wrapped in dry flannel. As soon
| as the powder is swallowed, napkin dipped in
cold water, should be stuffed into the mouth, to
take out the burning taste and to prevent vom-
iting.
/ Ifinstead of sweat flushing of the face
and hea: of the skin be caused by the hot ap-
plications, the lancet should be used to bring
the system down to the sweating point, or a
free cupping over the stomach. Drinks should
be given while the blood is flowing, to prevent
the loss Of blood from facilitating, which is we'll
to do, if the drinks be absorbed; blood letting,
Dy removing VehOuS piethora laciiilates AosorP-
ton. A sweat viii stop the diarrhea and vom-
ting if it can be established. While the diar-
rhoea goes on, and perspiratipu occurs, stimu-
lants may be used freely-none are too strong,
fire itself is scarcely too strong, if it could be
! swallowed. The powders though are generally
strono enough. When sweat is once establish
ed. stimulants are injurious, and apt to drive
the blood to the brain, and cause secondary fe-
yer. Warm teas or chicken water are then the
best 1stimulants; they dilute the blood-they can
be taken cold or warm or alternated with ice.--
But suppose the powders cannot be kept on the
stomach, what then? ] answer, morphine and
camphor water From half grain to a grain
of sulphate of morphine dissolved in dissert
spoonful of camphOr water 1.-THE aqua camphor
of the sheps) should be given after every spell
of vomiting, or every stool, also little calomel
or chalk mercury. Coffee after the morphine,
prevents it from affecting the head.
have been practising medicine in the city
of New Orleans more than four months, and
have seen more or less cholera every day. |
have not met with single case, which has not
been promptly cured by the above mentioned
means, if taken in hands before the pulse failed
The most Of the cases are cured by a single
dose. More than one or two doses are seldom
necessary. What kills so many people with
cholera thav will bolo 10 he