The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-09-05
How Cholera is Contagious and its
Treatment. Y

The London Times Of the 23d Of Ju-
tly, admits" that the cholera, after hav5-,
ering around our coasts with sort of
indecision, has at length invaded the
country in earnest" sit is extremely
opportune," the Times remarks, that
at such a Hmmenta statement should
have been laid before the public which
Egives q distinct account, on thelhighest
authority, of the principal facts ascer-
tanned respecting the nature and conta-
gionsness Of cholera, and respecting the
kind OF precautions which are necessary
to prevent its diffusion The medical
officer OF the privy council of England
has presented most interesting dis
cussion on q Foreign Epidemics and
Quarantine" i'll his report Just present
ed to Parliament; and that which is
learned from this document is stated by
the Times us follows: q 1918 s't1h i.
"The first point clearly ascertained
is that cholera ii one of those diseases
which are propagated by human inter
course. In other words, itlisadistinct-
~ contagious disease. The contagion,
of course, may be very. different from
that which rropasgates fesers, III the
latter case the carnations from the. bo-
|dy appear to, be the sources ofinfection.
But in cholera it is the, discharges
which are the principal means of propa-
eating the disease. If these discharges
are not Immediately disinfecte1, they
soon develop highly infectiYe power.
and the smallest quantityIof them is
sufficient to mpart q nOEious quality to
other accumnlationssa and even to large
volumes of water, iii consequence, not
only do the ettiuvia from these accumu-
lations become dangerous, but, what is
OF more importance, if the poison leaks
in the smallest degree into wells or rum
ming streams, the disease may be spread
over a whole district by means of the
water supply. So important is this
source Of diffusion, that geological con-
ditions of soil and the varying height
of the water level in wells have been
found to be materially connected with
the spread of the disease; and sol sub
tie and dangerous is this influence, that
such things as bedding and clothing
may long retain their infections proper
ties, and be the means Of exciting chol-
era outbreaks wherever they may be
sent for washing or other purposes.
1Such are the well-ascertained facts
about cholera, upon which all ournleas-
ures OF precaution must be based. OF
course, DR.. Simon is careful to- guard
himself against being thoughtt to deny
the concurrence ofoccult influences, such
asYatmospheric conditions and local PEI
culiarities. These, however, are for the
present unknown, but; that the disease
lis communicable by humanintereourse,
i'll the manner we, have stated, is now
well known, and is the fact upon which
it behOoyes us to act.
y = Wherever cholera appears,
the utmost vigilance ought to he direc-
ted to two points first, to tile prompt
distinction of the discharges, clothes
and houses of the sick; and, secondly.
to the condition of the water supply.
In some cases it may be desirable to
close the. wells and pumps altogether,
and in all cases the water should be
carefully examined. But besides this,
the sick should be as far as possible is
olated, and the utmost endeakor should
be made to treat them in special hospi-
tails. Nor, where such q precaution is
feasible, would it be at all an excess of
vigilance to, isolate their families for a |
time. We are glad to see that this pre-
caution is being actually adopted at
Liverpool. The depot at Bankhall has,
it appears, been reserved, nor for the
sick, b,itfor the families of the sick,
who will thus be placed in sort Of 7
quarantine.