Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-04-03


that which we have witnessed since that day.
Then it was that the farmer had just secured
a bountiful crop of wheat-the largest, per-
haps, that had ever been realized in the
West-and bis corn crop, just maturing, pro-
missed h;m q yield that would have complete
II satisfied all that his heart and desires had
hooaI, or even wished. But in these high
and Ha,tg-ins aat;cipadons, he was most
sadly disappointed. They have fashion
out here Of cutting off their corn just before
seeding, aad putting it up in shocks, or small
stacks. Many of the farmers did this too
early, or before the ear was fully matured,
apprehensive of an early frost. Soon after
this, there came warm, rainy season, and
to this succeeded hard freezing spell Of
weather, which was followed by thaw, or
warm close weather, of several days dura-
ton. This was fatal to the corn. Every ear
that had been frCzea vas damaged, and
thousands of bushels rot!ed in the shock,
aai even after it was housed. Many poor
fellows lost every bushel whilst some were
IN re fortunate, ard saved q third or more Of
their crops. This was real calamity, as corn
had been so high and scarce last year. But
for this disaster, corn would have been SO
plenty, that it would not haze sold for more
than twenty cents bushe. But, as it is, it
has already risen to fifty cents and, it is
quite probable, will be dollar bushel be-
tore the next crop comes 10.
/ Western Virginia has a climate exceeding
/ " variable, indeed--S1metm9 having all
the seasons in twenty-Ggug hours. Hence it is
( THAI catarrhal affections and rheumalisms arc
extremely prevalent / never saw a. many
rheumatic people in ali my life, old and
. young. Erup;iYe diseases are likewise not
l...lc prevalent. In adVerting to diseases
| VI this character, | cannot omit making q
/ few brief remarks on one of the most formid-
able Of all the Etantlemata. | here allude
to Scartottaa. There is hardly any disease
that enters family which causes greater
alarm than scarlet .terer. 1t generally assails
household like thief in the night, and
/ when the nature Of the attack is discovered
! il causes the greatest anxiety and alarm :;
and well il may, as 10 numerous instances lt
sweeps OF nearly every child in family,
and sometimes every one, a. | have ire
qaenuy heard IF late. This does appear t
uc stran,e indeed lave been familiar
wi,n tlgs terrible disease in all it, forms and
mod Il cations for the last forty years or more
v, my professional lie, aud pvactised in it
in a variety OF places and communities, and
vet have had 10 such luck as this. have
never lost more than two patients in any one
tamil y-ani very seldom any-and that in
many families where there were Elk or eight
or more, down with the disease at the same
time. |, therefore, cannot help thinking that
there must be something wrong when ply
s,cian loses SO many of his patients 10 scarlet
lever. OF one Tact | am very sure, rs have
,o0 often witnessed il, and that is, that physi
clans U.Jan physlc entirely to much in this
disease. There Is generally a strong ten
isucY 30 debility and sudden prJstr4tion, and
,hat being the cise, it i iudisputably impr.-
per to Gdmial5ter active depletory medicines,
as they would not only increase that tendency,
but might cause reyulsion from the surface
of the body, and consequent premature fad
ing or striking in Of the eruption. Ii would
be far better to depend upon simples, and
the RS mciicdt,ir nature, or the recuperatiye
energies Of nature, than to pursue such
course as this. Ny own practice, founded
on a long course Of observation and expe.
Renee, is 10 treat the disease with remedies
Of the mlllCs. kind. And | shall here only
give IN outline Of my mode OF treatment;
and should 1t he instrumental in saving one
valuable lifc | shalt be amply compensated
tyr toe trouble it will have given me 10 com.
maaicltnE it, through the medium of the
good old Alexandria Gazette; and | do not
know how | could select better channel
through which to convey useful intelligence
Of the kind to the community at large.
| Immediately commence the treatment
with an emetic Of lpecacuanha. Taken in
the beginning, cmctics are OF the greatest
utility in scarla,ina; and to cleanse the
throat, and for ether purposes, at later pc
riois in the angiu0Sc form Of the disease,
jhcy are not less valuable. Bg the operation
OF vomiting, tIo stomach J. c!aGased Of its
ytiliaI contcut-, IT. energies aroused, aud
rs sautlry influences over the system hap
pity secured. This cmetic il not less efica-
cions 10 promoting the etii)resccnce when
retarded or to recall il when suppressed.
Ipecac is so innocent that there is nothing
to be epprehended from an overdose, as the
whole OF it is thrown up with the contents OF
the stomach as soon as it operates. Small
children may take five or six, and repeated
if necessary, at short intervals. Larger
persons, or adults, may take 20 or 80 grains
as a dose.
The bowels should be kept in a soluble
state by mild purgatiyo medicines, such
as castor Ill, ca,ciued maGuCsia, EPSON salts,
AMI croamor tartar Although popular pre-.
iuarccs have pretty generally prescribed Gallo
mel in the treatment o.! this disease, yet
there are certain pathological conditions, Oc-
casionaily occurring, 10 which it may be adj.
ministered cautiously With signal benefit
As, for instance, when the disease is evidently
CON picated with hepatic arrangement, or
bilious symptoms. In such cases, instead
Of having any perniciOus tendency, it often
displays highly salu,ary effects. The illustri-
Gus Rush strenu0us!y recommended 1t 10
union with cmetic5. is additional general
remedies, ! prescribe cool air, and cooling
drinks Of lemonade, cold water, aud little
ice, wien the fever is on, and the surface
lot and dry-and warm stimulating teas
and drinks in toe aaghiEja, or when the sys-
Iem flags with much prostration, and a cold
slate VI the surface aud extEemIties, with
tendency 10 the eruption to recede.
The local remedies | employ are few, viz:
mild gargIes Of bOrax, strong sage tea, and
honey also, Of alum, or any other simple
astriugent | do not approve of the harsh,