Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-06-09

have been devised, but new expe-
rienee and fresh facts have disproved them
all, so cspricious and seemingly without
law is its coming and going.
Any number of cases can be brought to
prove that the cholera is infectious /; yet in
Paris in ls4s, of the great number of Physi-
clans and medical students who were con-
stantly attending cases in the worst form
in the hospitals and among the lowest class
es in the city, not one caught the disease.
1t has also been known to break out in
caravans on the deserts, when completely
isolated and far from any habitation of
man.
Along the Gauges in India, there was a
certain belt of country where the cholera
was terribly fatal. Two boats, loaded with
troops, had occasion to pass down the ri Ter.
When they approached this territory the
crews were ordered to row with all possible
speed until the infected belt was passed.
At about the anne time the cholera broke
out in both boats, and upon comparing re-
ports, IL was found that it ceased at the
same time and exactly the same number Of
cases and deaths occurred on each boat.
The cholera frequently passes down one
side Of q street and leaves the other I'M
touched.
Medical men are generally satisfied to
give attention to the more practical matter
of symptoms and treatment, and even
these are not yet well understood. The
coming season will, doubtless, do more for
the establishment of a perfect system of
treatment than all the previous ones.
ITS LESSONS.
The history of the cholera shows that
panic and fright are more fruitful sources of
disease than any causes which can be traced
to the disease itself. It is the universal
testimony of physicians that the work of
curing the cholera is half accomplished if
the CONVICTION that it must prove fatal is
once removed from the minds OF the pa
tients. When sandusky was without medi-
cal aid and men, women and children gave
up in despair or fed to the country, to be
refused admittance to the barns, even, near
ly every case proved fatal. But as soon SIS
DR.. Aekloy, and other medical men, in
whose skill the people had confidence, ar
rived there, the disease at once abated.
Troops, during the hot season when most
liable to its attacks, have been entirely free
from it while victorious, but when defeated
and broken in spirit, have been swept away
by thousands.
This case occurred in the practice Of our
most eminent physicians. Several mem
bers of family living a few miles from the
city had died of the cholera. At the funer-
al of her mother a daughter had been taken
with the disease and had requested to be
brought here. She had hardly arrived be-
fore a sister came also for treatment. The
last one had no symptoms of cholera, but
was thoroughly convinced that she should
not escape it, aud nothing could shake her
conviction or remove her terror. Before
morning she was dead-and of fright.
Cases are much less likely to prove fatal
when the patient has the proper nurs-
ing and care. In the later stages re-
moval is almost certain death. The best
place TO meet the cholera is at home. Fa-
miliar and accustomed scenes, the pres
once of friends, and above all the advice
and treatment of physicians, whose knowl-
edge and skill are known, will do much to
avert the awful disease and to render its at
tacks less violent and fatal.
The Incorporate and dissolute of every
1aznvfption fha f1-faI all I'll a1a4laI 4l..o
who are filthy in person aud habits, those
living in Over-crowded and il~l-ventilated
apartments, those who are enfeebled or
broken Town by disease or over-work, and
those who are subjected to undue and ex-
hausting exposures, are the ~fore-doomed
victims of the pestilence.
Regularity and temperance, wholesome
food and comfortable clothing, cleanliness
and sleep, a brave heart and sound philoso-
ply, are the best safeguards.
In regard to the policy of having aceu-
rate reports of deaths there can be nodoubt.
Any attempt to conceal will appear, and
rumor always makes matters worse than
they really are. The true policy for the
business and all other interests of the city is
to get and keep the public confidence by
stating the facts as they are, without any
attempt at ~concealment.
During the former periods when the
cholera has ragged in this country, many of
the cities of the land have become almost
waste places. Men Of all classes fed from
these borders for their lives, and society was
for the time disorganized. But Cleveland
has been touched SO lightly that we might
almost say the pestilence passed US by.
Ifthe coming hot months prove sickly,
its dry and healthy location, its pure water,
and braeing air, and the thorough cleanli-
ness of every part, will make it a city of
refuge for the residents of more crowded
cities.