The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-08-03
CHOLERA.
Forths Post.

For the Post
M, Editor IL had thought for some time
tba, at some future period | would drop
few thoughts upon the subject oil ChOierA ~
,h. numarous readers of the Post, by your
consent; and as the season is approaching
when this .couige of the human race Is ',o''
I;kslv 20 make its appearance, this is probably
AZ suitable time as could oe seiee'eu'
history of cholera lie curious one anu It's
spread by eOntagiO" or otherwise 'no0'eu
and does not materially affect our
-, nuroose. Much has been said about
A., exemption of pine-rcOOd regions from the
..v,oe. of cholera, and all without the shadow
a.. foundation for the truth Of such an oPin-
ION. could give numerous instances oil the
,;.;tstions Of cholera in pue regions oil the
South, in the spread of the disease in 1882.
This section was visited in the Summer oil
1853 with epidemic dgsentery of low grade
or typhoid type; also the past Summer oil Oh
and some cases complicated with eholerie
symptoms supervening upon the dysentery.
and q few cases Of genuine cholera. We
know not but this section or portions of 1t
NAV suffer from this dread calamity this sea-
son. hence the necessity of being to some ex'
tent posted up with its nature aud symptoms.
II has been argued by some, and among that
number (otherwise) intelligent physicians
that genuine Asiatic eholers has never yet
visited this country. We would just say If
this b. true, that Asiatic cholera has never
visited New Orleans or any other city in the
United States or Canadas-for cases have oc-
Cured in this county with all the eharac
teristie symptoms of the disease, and termina-
ted fatally 10 less than twelve hours, and we
have already seen indications of the disease
:bis season. in the person Of a child laboring
under q suspicious diarrahea, cramping and
dying ia few hours. Cholera is disease
that ia a large majority of cases gives fair
warning by being preceded by a diarrhea,
which differs but little from ordinary diar-
rhea, and is as amenable to treatment as q
common diarrlos il early applied in its in
eipient stage. 1t is certainly more in ac-
cordance with the dictates Of common sense
and reason to warn an individual, individu.
ais. or . community, Of danger from any
source whatever, than to lull them into secu-
rity. by crying No dangeri false alarm =
The most Of epidcmics or sporadic diseases
have some regularity in their approach and
duration. 1t is true, we cannot in every In.
stance demonstrate what produces them, but
we can form some idea. We can calculate
with some degree Of certainty as to when and
how they will attack and the length Of time
they will afaict u.s. But Asiatic cholera baf-
hes all such calculations 1t comes at every
season in the year-in damp and dry weather,
under favorable and apparently unfavorable
circumstances, for the outbreak Of the dis
ease. The manner in which it travels is still
Q mystery--I might add its peculiar mystery
Last season this section of country was ex-
posed to q cholera midsm or virus, or ehoieric
atmosphere but not sufficiently strong to at
tack most constitutions until depressed or
undermined to some extent by the prevailing
epidemic (dysentery,) or subject to some ex.
citing cause. such as intemperance in some OF
its varied forms. the too free use of vegetable
diet, exposure to the damp or night air. the
relaxing influence of Summers meridian
sun, or the depressing influence Of fear, con.
stitutional diseases, &c. Az to premedieatioa
or preventives to an attack Of cholera when
in an exposed condition, have but little
confidence n-and believe in Ta ny instances
they prove decidedly injurious. by acting I"
an exciting cause in disturbing the stomach
and bowels and inducing an attack OF the
disease we are trying to prevent. great
variety of preventives have been recommend
cd from time to time. without any good re-
sulting in a single instance that can call to
mind At present. The best possible course
that can be pursued when there is danger at
hand from cholera, consists in regular, uni
form habits in every respect, agreeable occu'
patton. and temperate but generous living,
upon wholesome diet. believe persons have
but little to fear, even in cholera districts,
that willact up to these last requirements.
OBSERVER.