The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-04-28
The Approach OF the Cholera
CHICAGO. April goth. 1855

CHICAGO, April Goth, 1855.
To the Editor Of the wosxisssAss ADvooArs.
Having heard 50 many fears expressed
TIT Chicago will be visited BY that fearful
scourge-ths Asiatic Cholera, during the
coming summer, have thought the follow
ing experience regarding it, gathered in my
travels in Russia, Australia and the coast OF
Africa, would not BE- without interest TO ,h.
majority Of your readers:
During my stay in Russia in IS47, Of
three months, the cholera was raging to a
fearful extent. Business was entirely sus-
pended, and the sole employment Of the
sviDg was found in burying the dead. YES
sells lay in the ports Of Odessa and St
Petersburgh with every member Of their
crews Q corpse, and none were found willing
to visit these charnel houses. ! saw and
eonversed with the Emperor Nicholas, when
he visited some of the worst infected dis
tricts, and heard him give the following in
structions to the medical attendants /:
"All parts Of The city must be kept clean,
and al novels whitewashed and dis
infected" No person must change
their diet, with the exception Of fresh
meats, which must not be eaten. Sailed
meats and Ash must be substituted and
coarse bread" With regard to drink, mis-
orders were to give to each male adult six
wine glasses of the best French brandy, and
three glasses to each female, per day, and
nine glasses to every sailor on board Of a
vessel. found during my residence there
tina. eight out Of every ten persons attack Cd
who did not follow this diet, died, as fright
and fresh IN rats are two Of the most power
ful predisposing causes. | also found that
those who cat and drank freely but not to
ercess) Of tie food aud drunk above mention
ed, not only in Russia. but OF. the entire
coast of the 'Ealtic Sea-" were those who
escaped the raysges Of Asiatic Cholera.
In 1915, found the cholera prevailing on
the western coast Of africa, waere the NOR
tally was perfectly appalling. The people
in my opinion died from an overdose Of filth,
and the want Of salt provisions, but those
who were fortunate enough to get plenty OF
good food (salted,) and enough Of the best
Jamaica Rum, which was recommended by
the most eminent physicians, were the per
sons who escaped altogether or recovered
when attacked, say, in the ratio Of four out
Of every Eve.
During my stay in Australia, which lasted
from 1849 to 1852, never knew of a single
case of cholera, except that which went I'M
der the name Of ship fever, though in my
opinion ship fever is the very essence OF
cholera, Notwithstanding that the people Of
Australia will not admit of it. Neither did |
ever know case Of sickness" in Australia,
Originating in "New Holland" (Which is Aus
tralia, which was not brought by emigrants
from Asia, Africa or Europe, but none from
America. The physicians in this place, as
elsewhere, highly recommended the use Of
pure Jamaica rum as a preventative, the
sailors being allowed nine wine glasses per
day plain food, not too highly seasoned
and not too salt. In other portions of the
globe, and there are few places have not
visited, my experience has been the same,
and your readers may exercise their own
discretion in acting upon these recommend
atoms.
| Should cholera unfortunately visit Chicago
during the coming summer, in order to pre-
vent the disease from attacking myself, my
diet will be My food, plain and common +;
salt fish, corn meat and rye bread. Ny drink,
a fair portion Of Jamaica Rum three times
per day, according to my constitution This
Is my experience and advice.
| Yours truly, VIAroR