Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-10-05
Reflections about the Cholera,
BY OBSERVER.
Correspondence Of the Chronicle.

rived IN Clarksvllle, IRON new orleans, ana
put up at the hotel lie was at the time
laboring under virulent attack Of Asiatic
cholera A crowd Of citisens assembled at
his room, witnessing the distressing specta-
Gle, but could do nothing to check the dis.
eese, or mitigate his sufftrings, and after
rapidly sinking away almost to a skeleton,
died in four hours after entering the hotel
1t was greatly feared that the disease would
spread throagh the town, from so many per-
sons having been in close contact with the
patient, yet not a single new case occurred
This was considered positive evidence that It
was not contagious, but infections. Thir.
teen months afterward, being the 3Oth of
June, 1895, epidemic cholera suddenly ap-
peared lin the mighty in GAINESVILLE, and
three persons died BY sunrise next morning.
After which, great portion Of the popula.
ton were attacked by the disease, but the
people confronted IL with great fortitude,
and grappled with it manfully for the mas
terry. 1t visited the filthy hovel and the
neat and healthful mansion-while at the
same time the same classes of dwellings were
exempt. u. ..r..
BY the prompt manner in which remedies
were applied, and assistance chesrJ NJ, rem
dred but few cases proved fatal. II Ia. ted
as an epidemic precisely eight days. The
whole number of deaths in Clarksville in
Guiding radius of about four miles out
side of town was 30.
Remarks on some Of the fatal cases. Mr..
R., a stout athletic man. ate immoderately of
boiled beans mot well enough eooked) at
dinner, and died before night. Mr.. D. was
standing at his door at one o'clock p. NJ,
apparently in good health. / remarked to
him that | was on my way to see some of the
cholera cases. He replied that he had been
slightly indisposed in that way during the
forenoon. told him it was cholcra-and
advised him to commence work immediate.
ly. lie smiled and said, o no, it is nothing.
1t will wear off in day or two. passed
on. II did wear off before six o'clock the
same evening, for he bad passed through the
ordeal of cholera in its worst form and died.
Mr.. g., another stout man, retreated to
friends house in the Countrywide same night
be died. IT was thought to have been so
sudden, that the news of his death caused
great CONSERVATION in town, silent but Deep
but it was ascertained, that deceased had the
night before been at convivial party, and
remained to late hour, and which was be.
lieved to have been the primary cause of his
attack and death. During the eight days
alluded to, the weather was unusually and
uncomfortably cool. The sky was a very
deep cerulean, and at many places clouds of
the minutest winged insects foated in the
air, which was believed to be an unusual
phenomena. 1t was specialized that these
insects were either the harbingers of a ehol-
era atmosphere, or that they possessed the
quintcssence of the disease itself.
The main remedy resorted to for the cure
of cholera was calomel in small doses. and
in many cases was etfcctual, yet there was
diversity of opinion on that subject. Clarks-
will then contained about l,2oO inhabitants.
There were no etsterns here at that time
Limestone water was universally used for
drinking purposes, and that not of the purest
quality, hence the great number of cases in
the incipient stage, which were Immediately
attended to, for although there were not so
many professed christians here then, as now,
yet there were more Nightingales and
Towards " who went about doing good to
all who needed assistance, without regard to
their position in life, whether Christian, Jew.
Turk or lnfdel. The general conclusion
was that cholera was manageable disease
1t met promptly with the proper remedies
and attention, for it was insiiious in its
attacks and The patient deludcd thereby.
III ls4s epidemic cholera again appeared
in Clarksville--population 2,5OO-yet there
were much fewer cases than in 1885, aud
only thirteen deaths in town and immediate
neighborhood united. The greater number
OF the latter occurred in the suburbs, where
limestone water was freely used. GAINESVILLE
then was generally supplied with cistern
water, proving beyond adoubt that the latter
is more healthful. One case in point will
prove the truth of this assertion. A citizen
OF GAINESVILLE had uniformly used cistern
water, and enjoyed good health during the
time, but being actively engaged in hard
manual exercise, becoming much heated
drank freely of limestone water from the
town spring, which was very impure. That
night be was attacked with cholera, but by
timely remedy was saved. In conclusion, to
show up diversity of opinion, | will state the
most singular case, perhaps on record. A
very stout, full grown man, over % years of
age, was in the last agonies of choIera. A
very popular physician was called to the
case as he had never been known TO agree
with any of his compeers professionally, he
emphaticaily pronounced this case Of ehol
era mfdntum
AS am fully aware of the fact, that for
an humble individual to give dissertation
on religious dogmas, would incur the anath.
ema of sacriege from certain quarters, so it
is equally certain, that in attempting to give
what may appear diagnosis of disease,
that the charge Of presumption will be made
by others yet withal claim an inalienable
right to do so when the premise is based
upon experience, minute observation, and,