Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-04-13
ne CHOLERA
HoW to Prevent er Cure Ik-Dr. Hamlin's Let
ter from Conataatinopls

q
/ quaIntance with IT, and to see It IN all its
forms aud stages during each ofits inva-
slons OF UonstantinOple, wish to make
to my friends IN Maine some suggestions
/ which may relieve anxiety or be of prac-
teal use.
1st. On the approach of the cholerl
every family should be prepared to treat
it without waiting for physician Il
does its work so expeditoiusly, that while
you are waiting for the doctor It is done.
I'd. IfyOu prepare for it, il will not come.
l think there Is no disease which may be
avoided with SO much certainty as the
cholera. But proYidential circumstances.
ct the thOughtless indiscretiOns of some
membeF OF hOussho4d- az invite the at
tack, and the challenge will never be re-
fused. 1t viii probably be made in the
night, your physician has been called in
another direction, and you must treat the
case yourself or 1t Will be fatal
Sd. Causes of attack. I have person
ally investigated at least d hundred cases,
and not less than three -fnurths could be
traced directly to improper diet, or to in
tOXlcatlng drinks, or to both united. OF
the remainder, suppressed perspiration
would comprise a great number. A strong,
healthy, temperate, laboring man had a
severe attack of cholera, and after the
danger had passed I was curious to as
certain the cause. He had been cautious
and prudent in his diet. He used Moth
ing Intoxicating. His residence was in
a good locality. But after some hours of
hard labor and very profuse perspiratiOn,
be had lain down to take his customary
nap right against an open window through
which very refreshing breeze was blow
ing Another cause is drinking largely
of cold water when hot and thirsty
Great fatigue, great anxiety, fright. fear,
all hgure among exciting causes. IF one
can avoid all these he is as safe from the
chOlcra as from being swept away by
comet.
4th. Symptoms of an attack. While
cholera Is prevalentin place almost eve
~ one experiences more or less distur-
banoe of digestion. 1t is doubtless In
part imaginary. Every one notices the
slightest variation of feeling, and this
gives an importance to mere trifes.-
There is often aslight nausea. or transient
pains, or rUmbliug sounds when no at
tack follows. No one Is entirely free from
these. But when diarrhea commences,
though painless and slight, it Is in reality
the skirmlshing party of the advancing
column. 1t will have at first not any
Characteristic Of Asiatic cholera But do
not bs deceived. tits the cholera never
theless. Wait little, give it time to get
hold, say TO yourself Il feel perfectly
well, it will soon pass of. and in a short
time you will repent of your folly In vain.
l have seen many one commit suicide
In this way.
Sometimes, though rarely, the attack
commences with vomiting. But IN what
ever way it commences ii is sure to hold
on. In very few hours the patient may
Z so L 8
feet become cold and purplish, the coun-
at first nervous and anxious, be-
comes gloomy and apathetic, though
mental restlessness a nd raging thirst tor
ment the sufferer while the powers of
life are ebbiDg. The intellect remains
clear, but all the social and moral feelings
seem wonderfully to collapse with the
powers. The patient knows he
is to die, but cares not a snap about it.
In some cases, though rarely, the di-
arrhea continues for a day or two, and
the foolish person keeps about, then sud
denly sinks, sends for physician, and
before he arrives, dies as the fool dieth
COURSE OF TREATMENT.
1st. For stopping the inoipient diarr-
hea. The mixture which I used in lS48
with great success. and again In 1855, has
during this epidemic been used by thous-
ands, and though the attacks have been
more sudden and violent. it has fully es-
tAbllshed its reputation for efficiency
and perfect safety. Il consists of equal
parts by measure of laUdanum and spirits
of camphOr and tincture ofrhubarb Thir-
ty drops for an adult, on a lump Of sugar,
will often cheek the diarrhea. But to
prevent It's return. care should always be
ia ken to continue the medicine every four
hours in diminishing doses %, 20, Is, 10,
9, when careful diet Is all that will be
needed
In case the first dose does not stay the
diarrhea, continue to give increasing
doses, 30, 40, 45, go, at every movement
Of the bowels. Large doses will produce
no injury while the diarrhea lasts. When
that is checked then is the time for eau
ton. l have never seen a case Of diarr-
hea taken in season which was not thus
controlled, but some cases of advanced
diarrhea, and especially of relapse, paid
no heed to it whatever. As soon as this
becomes apparent, / have always resort
ed to this course. Prepare a teacup of
starch boiled as for use in starching linen.
and stir into it a full teaspoOnful Of laud
anum for an injection. Give one third
at eEch movement Of the bowels. In one
desperate case abandoned as hopeless by
could not stop the diarrhea
tanned nearly a teaspOonful of laudanUm
The patient recovered and is In perfect
health. At the same time | use prepared
chalk In grain doses, with few drops
of laudanum and camphor to each. But
whatever course is pursued 1T must be
followed up, and the diarrhea controlled,
or the patient is lost
ID Mustard Poultices. Those should
be applied to the pit of the stomach, and
kept on till the surface IS well Redeemed.
Sd. The patient, however well he may
feel, should rigidly observe perfect rest.
To lie quietly on the back Is half the
battle. In that position the enemy fires
over you, but the moment yeu rise you
are hit.
When the attack comes in the form of
diarrhea, these directions will enable eve
~ one to meet 1t successfully.
4th. But when the attack is more viO-
lent, and there is vomiting, or vomiting
and purginR, perhaps also cramps and col
io pains, the following mixture is far
more effective and should always be re-
sorted to- The missionaries, MessrH.
Long, Trowbridge and Washburn, have
used 1t in very many cases and with won
derful success. 1t consists of equal parts
Of laudanum, tincture of capsieum, tine
ture of ginger and tincture cardamon
seeds. Dose, thirty or forty drops. or
halfa teaspoonful in little water, and to
be increased according to the urgency of
the case In case the first dose should
be elected, the second, which should
stand ready should be given Immediate
Iy after the spasm Of vomiting has ceas-
ed. During this late cholera siege no
Dne of us failed Of controlling the vomlt-
ing and also the purging, by, most, the
third dose. We have, however, at invari-
ably made nse of large mustard pouluces,
IF strong, pure mustard, and applied to
.bs stovooob h1-ofa ao1vaa oF tho lara