Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-07-24

remain in state of decomposition a
ponds in which there is stagnant waie
should be filled up-.with good clea
earth. ------
five should be so unfortunate as to hav
visit from cholera, should advise tn
citizens of Memphis to make no suddel
change in their mode of living, but avol'
all unripe fruits, all stale vegetables
and in fact any and everything
that disagrees with the individu
al. Iwoud prescribe melons, corn ant
cucumbers. One of the most powerful
pre-disposing causes Of cholera is fear
There is not a doubt in my mind tha
thousands have come to their end II
cholera through its agency, and l know
of no better means of allaying theil
fears than by assuring them that cholera
isnot a contagious disease The physl
clans of India AMI the lower classes have
long since come to that conclusion. The
| Coolies. than whom more cowardly sci
cannot be found, will nurse cholera pa
tients without evincing the least sign oil
fear, which is pretty conclusive evidence
that they do not look upon it as a conta
gious disease.
Now, as it regards the cure, there is
no disease in the whole catalogue OF dis
eases where there is so great diversity
of opinion in the treatment as that oil
cholera.
have Witnessed three epidemics OF
cbolera-tbe first in 1882 in Baltimore,
and the other two in the West, and can
safely say that have not met with any
two that held the same opinion, with re-
gard to its treatment The treatment
that would recommend is that practised
by C. W. Bell, late physician to ID. M.
Embassy in Persia. He first starts out
with comparing the invasion of cholera
to that of the cold stage of intermitting
fever.
DR.. Bells opinion was formed from
his experience in series Of epidemics
which prevailed in Persia in 1912. The
firstlof these was dysentery then pc
riodical disease undescribed then
came tropical remittent fever; then
congestiye ague, and finally terminated
in true cholera. To this series of the
diseases am indebted for being led, as
/ can not but think have been, by spe-
cies of natural analysis, and by easy
transitions, to clear insight into the
nature of cholera, and to practice un-
biased by a theory, and simply arising
out of a process of accommodating my
remedies to the changing type of disease,
which then proved successful in every
case | attended where the feet had not
already become warm, while the legs and
body remained cold. a This is symptom
which my whole experience teaches me
10 consider as sign Of death, aud in
reference with it only seems to hasten
the fatal conclusion. With these views
Of the disease under consideration DIR.
Bell bleeds in the commencement Of the
cold or congestive stage of the disease;
hut in no case when reaction is taking
place. He further states that when be
first began bleeding it was at the COM
mencement of reaction, and be is frank
enough TO confess that in every instance
it proved fatal He further states that
the Persian physicians all bleed, but it is
in the reactionary stage, and conse-
quently fatal in almost every case.
1t is almost impossible to do DR.. Bell
and myself justice in an ordinary com
munication His arguments must be
dispensed with will, however, do the
best can under the circumstances.
1t is TO be hoped that the physicians of
Memphis will give it candid perusal,
and if it should meet their approval, give
DR.. Bells treatment fair trial
1t is true that bleeding has for the last
few years been almost wholly prescribed,
yet when we take into consideration a
disease that has bafiled the best skill of
the age, we are justified in using any
remedy that bids fair to afford relief
Therefore, we should not let our preju-
dices stand in the way for a moment
i only propose to give the outlines Of
DR., Bells practice; every intelligent
physician will be able to carry it out in
detail.
When the stomach is gorged with in
digestible food in case like this, mus
tard emetic will be found serviceable in
disgorging the oppressed organ.
Saline cathartics are found most SER
viceable in unloading the alimentary ca
nal
To meet and prescribe for the peri
odicity of the above disease, quinse
would naturally suggest itself; yet alone
it has not been found to answer the in
dication, yet in combination with sui
plate Of iron it meets the case very
promptly.
Dr. Bell gives iron aud quinae &C.
cording to the following formula he con-
siders the snlphate iron as anti-conges-
tive; il furnishes oxygen to the blood,
and thereby furnishes the heart with its
natural stimulant; R. quinae, 7. sulph.
feeni, or. il. acid sulph dilut NJ II.
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