Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-07-27
MALIaNExr CnoLERA-No. 3.


covering of the body, the loss of elasticity
of the skin, and lis remaining in folds
whenever they are pinched up, a piuehed
c~ountenance, and 2 loss of the pulse, axe
all symptoms highly characteristics of the
disease now under consideration, and that
we may fully comprehend the importance
of each one, as they stand related to the
tiee, with some others which in~cidently
present themselves during the progress OF
the malady. And We hope our professional
bretheren will no. be offended, If we ignore
all technicalities, and employ snch Ian
guage as will be easily understood By the
common reader, for our present effort is for
his benefit:
It may be stated that, as Z general thing,
diaTrhGa is the first symptom Of any mag
niIude that snnoys the victim OF cholera.
In come instances it comes on gradually,
and in others abruptly. Commonly the dis
charges are passed without any effort on
the part of the individual, frequently sur
prising him suddenly without any abdOmi-
mai pain. In some cases there Is Q sense Of
fullness and uneasincss that is very truu-
blesome, especially at the commencement
Of the attack and Just before an evacuation.
At first the excavations may be few in num-
Der and composed OF ordinary fecal matter,
but as the disease advances they become
more numerous, and are composed chiefly Of
water and numerous white flakes, which
give to the discharges I muddy appearance
that very much resembles rice-wster. These
discharges are commonly acid, contain very
little biIe, and have DO odor.
In not a few cases Of cholera vomiting is
present from the beginning but not 50 con
stantly as diarrhUa. 1t mostly occurs with
but slight effort, and is never SO severe as
in ordinary cases of cholera mOrbUs. 1t Is
generally rapid, frequent and copious,
causing Us often TO wonder where such a
large amount OF fluid can come from, seeing
tt e patient is taxing none. IN many in
stances hiccough accompanies The vomiting
and proves o source Of great distress TO the
individual, more so than almost any other.
When purging and vomiting have been
active for & short time, the patient begins
to complain of a very unpleasant sensation,
and not unfrequently Of acute pain in the
region Of the stomach, accompanied with
an unquenchable burning thirst, which SO
dries up the secretions Of the mouth that
the tongue seems To be adherent 10 the
palate. Tf the disease now goes on IN
checked, painful spasnis of the muscles
ensue, particularly of the legs, which being
almost constantly repeated inficts great
suffering upon the patent, and unless ne IS
speedily relieved, falls into q state of cal
lapse, which IN too many eases Is only a
precursor Of dissolution.
The condition Of The pulse is always sig
~nifieaat Of the disease, especially the pre-
cursory stage, when it is very slow and
feeble. But as the disorder develops itself.
it becomss very rapid and exceedingly
feeble, 50 much so that 1t Is scarcely per
ceptible. In many instances it has been
known to be absent for several hours before
death. It's entire suppression il he col
lapse stage is almost always a fatal sign.
The respiration is frequent, spasmedic
and painful. A physical exploration Of the
chest ellie Is no serious deyiaJi01s from &
state of health. only in The stage Of coilapse.
when, II the case IS to terminate fatally.
there viii be marked signs Of heart eliot.
Indeed I believe that the more immediate
cause Of death in cholera is the formation
of this clot. Il forms in the right side Of
the heart and entirely prevents the further
circulation Of the blood.
The features OF the cholera patient are
peculiarly expressive Of the maiady. The
bony part of the face is covered with mum
erous folds Of the skin, especially the fore
head, the checks and temples fall in, aa3 4
blue ring encircles the dull and ~liieless
eye. The ball of the eye itself recedes into
the socket, the eyelids half closed, reveal
q small portion of the lusterless cornea
The nose is pointed and thin. The face is
blue, cold ind covered with perspiratiOu.
nearly i~mmOveble, having an expression Of
lassitude and depression.
In this disease the voice loses its natural
tone. It may become sharp and Of Il higher
key than usual, or it may be entirely cxtin-
guished. The integuments and external
covering Of the body look dark blue and
turgid. while tho limbs are shrunken and
the ssin either dry or covered with a cold
sweat. Tho urine is sparingly secreted or
fails entirely its entiFe failure is a bad
omen.
But it is towards the latter stage where
we get its most characteristic symptoms,
when the disrrhGa, vomiting and spasn S
have ceased. and the individual has fallen
into n state Of collapse. Now, if he does
not die with the first six or twelve hours,
symptoms Of reaction will manifest them
the skin becomes less blue. the
warmth returns. and the pulse ia stronger.
But these favorable symptoms may be only
for = short duration and are very deceptive,
for there may soon follow great restlessness,
groaning and stupor; the pulse once more
ceases and the patient has succumbed 20 the
fell destroyer.
In other cases the patient, after having
escaped the more pressing symptoms. be-
gins to grow warmer and warmer bv de
grees, the pulse becomes sFiner and fuller,
the intense thirst is diminished, q brownisb
fluid now passes from the bowels instead Of
iiee-wster discharges, the bladder begins |
eli Eith urine, the voice returns TO its NATL |
tone, the stomach tOlerates nutritious |
food, thR rountenanco loses its haggard
look, the miEd becomes more sprightly, and
"A few DAYS the patient is completely con-
Indeed, sE acqusinted with
no disease of 50 formidable q character as
cholera where the Individual is s. speedily |
restored To health.
Many cholera patients, however, rally |
rom the most psefcuad collapse only 10
all victims 70 the SocoaiaTy JeUer. This is
more frequent in some epidemics than
'thers. as also more severe and fatal. In
he epidemic now prevailing in Europe, the
secondary fever is said to be very mild, |
most Of the patients recovering in 4 few
This fever commences very soon
liter reaction, and is attended with symp-
loms very much resembling typhoid fever.
the patient complains at first of headache, |
lain IN the back and limbs his eyes are
ntolerant of light and suifdsed the skin
hos and dry; tina bowels are slight
y relaxed aEd the discharges Of a brownish
tinged with bile; the abdomen is
ender TO the touch the tongue is clean
md red the pulse is very frequent and the
aspiration hurried the patient is restless
nd his sleep disturbed. These symptoms
nay continue with more or less severity
five to ten days, when convalescence
Tili gradually eEsne.
But when the disease proges fatal, the
.bove symptoms are soon followed by others;
the teeth become covered with dark
rowu matter; there is low muttering deli
the pupils oftaeey dilste, the breath
ng becomes very laeorioGs and noisy; the
cwels inactive; the fever ceases; the skin
ecomes covered with cold perspiTation; he
passes into q state Of profound iusensi-
iility; the pulse fails, the respiration ceases,
he jaw falls and the sufferer IS dead.
FRON LAKE SUPERIoR.-The steamer Iron
lily, Captain John Holland, from Lake Su-
arrived in port last evening. The
blowing IS c report of her trip down, rs
FINISHED 10y the clerk. Mr.. Wm. Stevenson:
allied from Oatonagon Saturday, July q,
Q p. m called at Eagle River, Ezgle
Iarbor and Copper Harbor the next morn
arrived At Lake Portage at 5 p. m.
,uni steamer Meteor there; left Portage
AXE Monday at 4 8. m, and arrived at
at g. m. there we're 10 vessels !
. Marquette; left Marqustte st : 4. m; ,
let steamer Ripois of Grand Island; ar ]
we'd at the - Tuesday morning; the I:
d. ,