Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-09-21
THE ASIATIO CHOLERA.
BY AN EXPERIENCED PHYSICIAN.
1.-THE DIAGNOSIS.

vomiting, wherein the patient does not gen
orally experience nausea, but simply throws
off fluid from the stomach, as in the emetiC
t operations which accompany dyspepsia OF
indigestion then commence the cramps
, which, i'll some cases are not very severe,
III others frightful and most agonizing
this stage almost Immediately succeeds the
excavations of what has been aptly termed
"rice water" from its similitude to that
substance /; and indicates cOnclusively that
the natural faces have been entirely dis
charged This fluid is thrown off from the
multitude Of minute blood-vessels situated
on the surface Of the intestines, and con-
sists Of the serum, a fluid principle of the
blood. 1t is the discharge of this fluid,
from the commencement Of the diarrh9a in
cooperating with the ordinary contents of
the bowels, causes the fluid state Of the
evacuations, which pass generally without
pain or much Inconvenience, and therefore,
cause no alarm until the whole fluid por-
ton of the blood is thus discharged su-
pcrnducing the third stage Of debility
cramps, blue skin, loss of pulse, cold sweats
clenched fingers, cold tongue and an indie
scribable coldness Of the whole body. The
vomiting still continues, with continued
excavations, with violent cramps, difficult
breathing, and loss of the power of speech,
and terrible loss of the substance around
the eyes, causing them to sink even deeper
than III those OF a corpse and this III 50
short space as to be incredible by those
who may not have witnessed it.
All this is the efect of the diarrh9a, which
is SO insldlous as to give no concern to the
patient until the vomitings commence, and
which produces, nevertheless, the loss OF
all the circulating fluid of the blood-ves-
sells, and those terrible results called ''chol-
era" In fact, the disease is not cholera
morbus, but rather diarrua Of an insidi-
Gus and most extraordinary character ; and
had it originated in this country, or in Eu-
rope, would no doubt have been so CON
sidcrcd and classified but the Asatics,
| indifferent Judges in such Matters are so
wanting in reflection that they observe
only the sensible changes which appear to-
wards the close and disregard the diar-
rhoa, being SO free from pain, and not calcu
| lated to excite alarm, but which is never
theless the real malady.
To illustrate more clearly my ideas on
this disease, will state the effects pro-
duced by the operation of bleeding with
the lancet, until faintness is produced !;
then indicate the similitude of this state
with the cholera and afterwards point out
the difference i'll the symptoms. and the
cause of that difference.
When the lancet is inserted in the arm
of patient to effect copious flow of
blood, he experiences no inconvenience un-
til considerable quantity has been taken
away and if he should be lying down, the
quantity may be quite large before any
constitutional effect manifests itself In
surgical practice, when it is desirable to
produce faintncss, the patient is bled stand
ing, and the effect is more rapid caused by
the gravitation of the blood, which in an
erect posture, inclnes downwards, leaving
the brain, heart and lungs without stimu-
lus faintness is the Immediate conse-
quence but in a recumbent position these
organs maintain their action for a much
longer time, because the loss of consider
able quantity is required before the vol
umc of circulating fluid is sufficiently re-
duced to cause a suspension of the funct-
ions of those vital organs, and to produce
syncope or fainting After some minutes,
the arteries contract upon the reduced mass
Of blood, reestablishing the relation be-
tween their capacity and their contents :;
the circulation recommences, the patient
revives and, maintaining horizontal po-
siticn is soon relieved But any one who
has been present at this phenomenon of
SyncOpc, will have noted the cramps and
nausea which generally accompany it in
this case, the surface of the patient is very
pale while in cholera, it is equally re-
markable for the blue color of the whole
surface. The reason is obvious in the
evacuations of water by means of the CO.
pious sweats and the diarrh9a all the col
orng matter of the blood remains behind
and for the want of fluid ceases to circu-
late the arteries continuing to pulsate
precipitate these PARTICLES into the minutest
vessels, and there deposit the oxygen they
may have acquired in passing through the
lungs, and absorb carbon, which imparts
the blue color to the skin; and this change
of color is the only difference there is be-
tween the last symptoms of cholera and
: those of excessive blood-letting.
1.-THE REMEDY.
Let me here say that these curative di-
rections may be relied on | have seen,
professionally, two or three hundred cases
and many more in hospitals. In my own
practice | have not lost single one.
Summarily, remember always, that this
disease is of the intestines solely, com
mencing with diarrh9a until two or three
evacuations per day, causing, generally, no
pains, and so slight as to cause no alarms.
This is strictly, and in itself, the disease ;
and in distinction from ordinary diarrhea,
must be stopped, and this cannot be done
with too much promptness
Indeed, Immediately that the epidemic
influence manifests itself in a community,
the inhabitants should adopt a stringent
diet, avoid all purgatives and every pur-
gative aliment, living principally on rice in
its various modes of preparation, fresh
meats (that is, not salted,) roasted or
boiled, or beef or mutton Boiled eggs,
chicken-broth or soup, very little salted,
and warm drinks, in place of cold ones.
Avoid as poisonous all acid fruits and veg
etables. Even potatoes have been dis
charged undigested after lapse of twenty
hours, and that by robust man, previous
ly of good health. Every kind of fermen-
ted drink, as beer, ale porter and cider, is
also very bad. In no case, during the pre-
J valence of the disease, should warm or fresh
, bread be used, and none less than day
; old. ..... a. .35
r. II