Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-04-12
PREVENTION OFCM0LERA.

In his admirable lectures DIR. Sou,hwood Smith
tells US that epidemcs all belong to the Class OF
FevGrs. The Black Death. the Oriental Plague,
the Sweating Sickness, Cholera, Typhus, Small
Pos, and many other diseases of less severity are
epidemic and periodical in their character and are
usually preceded by influenza. The frst outbreak
OF cholera in Great Britain heralded by it,
and the influenza of le41 announced the cholera
Of 1913. During the prevalence of cholera all 9th
er diseases are apt TO partake of its type, owing
doubtless IN great measure 10 the terror which
pervades community at such times, and we find
that the reaction OF the mental impressions the
body 50 powerful as frequently to result in the
death of tho unfortunate unless his attention can
be diverted from himself.
Cholera, like all other epidemics, il fesrfully
rapid in its action, and il death does not occur in
a few hours the patient will usually recover. The
great object to be attained in the treatment of the
disease when it has announced it's presence is to
gain. time The sufferer should 90 IL bed at once
and send for his physician, for every moment is of
value, and proper assistance ia the first onslaught
of the attack win often decide between life and
death in the ultimate result.
! Whatever opinions physicians nav hold regard
ing the contagious character ofvarious epdemics
all agree that certain conditions alike favOra
bic to their fatality. Filthy streets. dirty sewers
exhalatons fr m pntrid animal and vegetable sub.
stances, all powerful prcdisrosng of the
production not ONLY of cholera. but also Of typhu:
and all other diseases OF the fever class.
The influence of the foul air voided from the hu
man body is also exceedingly perncious TO the sys
TEN, especially in overcrowded, ill-ventilateC
rooms and buildings; bu. great is the infatuit
| of the ma Ority Of men reg irding the subject o
ventilation that, in spite of the evidence Of th'
nostrs, it is often asserted that there il no differ
ence to be found between pure and foul air. where
as the experiments Of DR.. Angus Smith show tina
il We cohdense the air of an OvercrOwded room an'
allow il to remain for a week it forms glu
tinous deposit that possesses 4 strong animal odor
and II examined from time to to time by micro
scope the deposit shows the appearance of vege
table growths in which hrsts Of animslcules ar
rapidly produced, thus demonstrating in the mos
satisfactory mann r the presence ola large a
mount of organic IN utter III the air expired fror
the lungs
The poisonous character OF the organic matte
contained in such expired air, and in that exhalc
from the skin, is demonstrated by the same author
ty in the statement tn At few drops OF the liqui
matter obtained by the condensation of the fou
air OF an overcrowdcd room introduced into tll
, veins of dog produces death, with the usual phe
: nomena of typhus fever
In the face Of ouch facts it is folly longer 10 di:
regard the important subject of ventilation il W
desire 10 escape the epidemic that now threatens u
an attack OF which is now regarded rs being eve
dsreputable to the patient since il involves gro,
|, ignora>ce OF the ordinary laws of hygiene, and
disregard ofcleanlihess in the personal hous,
, hold arrangements,
Ii is OF course impossible in m article to indica,
the means which families and individuals shou
, employ To protect themselves as far as possb
from the invasion OF this disease, and since the o
saving lhat an ounce OF prevention Is worth pour
of cure applies with marvellous force to the choler,
1t is the duty Of all to observe with care the law
OF hygiene a. laid down in the works OH this sui
ject An cxcellen, summary of them will he four
, in book on Anatomy. Physiology, and Hyyien
. recently published bs Professor Draper, in whic
tie questions of diet ventilation. bathing, etc Al
fully discussed and brough, within the reach of a
intelligent minds -Harpers We,kly.