The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-11-16
ChOlera-lts Prevention and Treatment
BY DR.. John eR1pLrr. nrNosuA

ahhouhceu to nave come 10 Inc large cities of
of the South and West and the shores of Lake
Michigan will not be exempt from its terrors
and ravages In view of this serious and fear
full fact-heightened not little in this respec.
by our experience even in this place in the
yeersslS5O and 1854, when in the former year
one in an hundred of our population sickened
and died, leaving surviving friends sorrowful
and desolate in the extreme--it becomes us
wisely and calmly, in the best possible and
skillul manner. TO prepare for. and meet the
stealthy ravager, in the moot suitable way that
observation and experience may, under benig-
uant Providence suggest and enforce.
The first inquiry that naturally presents itself
to our mind in this connection is What is Chol-
era Has it form, or being, or spirituality ? as
we often speak of it as though it were an entity,
material or immateral, something that like
an unseen missile, or a stream of lightning,
might reach and njure us. 1t is here that we
by our mode of expression confound, a condi-
ton with cause. The Cholera is not that
hich assaults US, producing certain condi-
ton in our animal system; but it is the condi-
ton itself, which constitutes the CHI olera, as de-
fined by Dunglison 10 be, vomiting and purg-
ing, as the essential symptoms, attended with
gripping and spasms in the legs and arms. What
ever may produce these symptoms is not the
cholera, but the condition s. The importance
of this critical distinction becomes the greater.
when we properly inquire into the Cause of
| Cholera
This has been varously defined by Physicians
ana Psychologists, both as respects the remote
and the proximato cause of the malady. I'm
| der the head of the former have been arranged
Miasmata arising from decaying and decompos-
ing amin al or vegetable matter. So also the
same thing has been ascribed TO the crowding
together of human beings in unventiIated rooms;
or the holds OF ships; in jails and in prisons; in
sleeping rooms, anc in court rooms; and even
some have upreasonably ascribed the cause to
the direst lnterposion of Divine Providence.
As in TIE case of Sennaeharib's Army before
Jerusalem. While the most of these opinions
may justly be considered az founded in tru til,
and are clearly illustrated by facts as truthful,
in gwen cases, and in different localities there
is nevertheless difficulty at times in tracing an
outburst of Che era to its probable and efficient
remote cause. The history of the disease in.
forms us that it has prevailed in elevated, dry
limestone districts, wei ss in in low, wet
marshy localities. 1t has been known to appear
in the airy, palatial residences of the rich,
where no ordinary ascriDed cause was apparent
as we'll as in the house OF the poor and badly
fed. These spot adic cases are unaccounte1 70
upon the basis of our ordinary theories, anc
NJ
on the subject in some instances OF its appearance
But, while all this difficulty may environ h.
matter of the remote cause of Cholera, there
: more certainty for the opinion whioh may b
boldly assumed in reg ard to tie proxmate caus
of the di ease in all cases. And this fortunate
ly is of more Importance in conducting tn
cure by remedial applications to Iavora
BILE issue. A knowledge of the remote cause
is chiefly important in avoiding an exposur
to ita operation; but a correct understanding q
the proximate is indispensable to skilful an
intelligent exhibition of such remedies wi
, give to the patient, The better chance of recov
, cry.
The proximate cause therefore of the diseas
J under discussion arises, from the loss OF c'to
} forces, to resist the efficient influence of re
mote cause. This diminution or loss of vita
power or vital dynames is the combustible con
dition of the patient, which being inhamed b.
the torch of the remote cause, whatever tina
may be, the disease bursts forth in awful an
fearful reality. Ii is the condition of the System
, favorable to the operation of a remote or eX
: citing cause, which awakens inevitably tn
characteristic symptoms phenomena whic
coDstit utes the disease. This loss of vital fore
is, we repeat the proximate cause of the char
acteristic manifesto ions, or symptoms Whlc
constitute Cholera, in greater or less severity
progress in the human system in all cases. Ii
deed this condition physiologically considered
, may doubtless be alleged as the proximat
cause of all diseases. The depreciation OF vita
force in the system exposes the individual t
} serious injury wien in the presence G
any malign fnence, exterior to him; while o
the other hand the individual in possession of
vigorous vital force may walk unframed ami
fcgs and damp, and all malarious Influence
and even OF contagion itself, without sufferr
essentially in his hygiene. My limits, will n,
permit me however to diver2e much in thi
|
, to the discussion of the cause of Cholera. W
allege then, that the proxlmate cause of the ma
ady in question is, the diminution of vital fore
n respect ot:the spancnc region in general, an
, the loss of energy in the nervous ceuters, whlc
, supply the abdominal viscera IN particular. TT
proper functions OF all the Viscera a, whether al
dominal or Thoiacic do in their healthul exer
else depend emlneDuy upon the integrity of Ia
nervous energy, vital force. If from any II
fuence this integrity be impaired, then the circt
lation OF blood in the vecera becomes languiC
the secretions become unhealthy, functional az
engagements ensue in various ways, and the Ell
tire system becomes exposed to Oppressive an
destructive influences. The nervous inhuenc
which supplies the abdominal viscera, such a
the stomach, the bowels, the liver &C., is cor
Quoted along the nerves having their origin il
, The spinal colnmn; and these form central ples
g uses all over these viscera both belor
aad behind. When the vital force of Ties
nervous influences is in any way seriousl
essened, then comes a destruction of the !
strants which it's Sanitary condition exerted
over these organs. This fact is illustrated il
tue lediiul ueJec'lohso o. lDe serum Oh the Dloo
from the stomach and bowels by v0m ting an
purging of rice water fluids Then cranp
} come in the muscles Of the chest, and limbs
the features of the face contract. he eyes be
, come sunken in their sockets, The skin become
cold with clammy sweat, all he power of tn
system subsidies, and death soon closes th
terrible scene.
AT this stage OF our inquiry another question
arises. What is the prevention, of development
of the disease, and what is the proper treatmen
if it be developed?
1t is universally accepted axiom, that pre-
vention is better than cure. If we can guar,
ourselves against an invasion of disease, W.
and on safer ground than to risk its cure
IlmNa are some snggestions in regard To thi