Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-08-14

QDbio ,Stailtt:e|!;ss:'nIn,t1'l,;ai{'1lrl,, :!: !, n Il an.
THE CHOLERA.
Its Rayagesin the East-Its Westward
Ogress-PerIOdical Returns ''
.tihI i'!" of Epidemics. d. ''' -.l
From Tho New York Post ]

from The New York Postl
A correspondent Oft Erening Post some
time ago proposed the theory Of the peri
odical appearance Of cholera as an epidem-
ic every seventeenth year; and assumed, ac-
cordingly, that as it prevailed here in lS49
and 1882, we have good cause to expect 1t
again in 1866. The pestilence, in the mild
er form OF cholerine, has broken out among
the Mussulmans who crowded, during the
last few months, the sacred places of Mecca
and Gebel Araphat, proving fatal to some
thousands of pilgrims. The period which
our correspondent spoke OF has come round;
and this intelligence from the region where
cholera, both as endemic and epidemic,
often holds high festival, at first view cer-
tainly seems to favor the apprehension.
EPIDEMIC CYCLES.
This theory of epidemic cycles and epi-
demic constitutions of particular years or
series of years has been a favorite notion
of many of our ablest and most observing
writers upon disease. But, for reasons not
hard to perceive, it is hardly capable Of be-
ing demonstrated as an absolute law. OBJ
servatiOns make it appear somewhat plaus-
ible, but upon closer investigation epidem-
ic aud other diseases generally are found to
recur with such considerable notifications
OF form as to indicate peculiar change. Of
conditions not easily reconciled with the
cycloid hypothesis. Perhaps the manifest
tations of disease have no actual repetition,
but only an approximation Of occurrences
and phenomena; as the thread of a spiral
and the current of whirlpool, though ap-
parently returning in circles, are always
making an advance forward, instead of
maintaining strict uniformity OF recur-
renee. ''|'- -...' '-' .Dt f
It will not require much reflection TO see
that the periods for epidemics to recur are
not uniform. If the, theory of periodical
revolutions should be considered, it win be
perceived that there must often be an over
Tapping, which would make two or more
epidemics occur simultaneously, and thus
render the substantiation Of the cycloid
theory a difficult matter. Besides, for the
last century and half, epidemics have
been much mlder. This must be taken
into consideration.
EPIDEMICs PROBABLY NORMAL IN THEIR
/ . 1..... r.. "a OPERATION. u ...t ... ..l.I
\ We must also take the fact into our cal
culatiOns that death Is the absolute c6hdi-
tion of existence. Its laws are as fixed as
those of the planetary system. However
we may seem to postpone its approach by
careful observance of physiological regi-
men, by taking pains not to exhaust by ex-
cesses or undue abstinences, our stock of
vitality, and by increasing the vital force
through enhancing the power of the brain,
we shall only escape endemics; which seem,
by the way, to be abnormal causes of disso-
luton. Our energies will eventually be
exhausted; age and wear will debilitate the
physical constitution. We can only pre-
serve ourselves for that harvest of mortal
ity which the epidemic seems to have been
ordained to be the reaper. This myste-
rious agency, If carefully considered, will
be found to be more beniflcent in its oper-
alton than we, in our alarm at its apparent
destructiveness, are wont to imagine. For
time pestilence seems to increase its raw
ages; but the years succeeding are marked
by a greater apparent healthfulness and
diminution of mortality. Thus the equilib-
rum is restored. AS for other considera-
tions death by the agency of an epidemic
is no more.to be feared, and is generally at
tended by less bodily suffering than disease
in other forms of manifestation.