The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-05-05
THE CHOLERA.
PredIspOsIng Causes and symptoms u
the Disease.


THE CHOLERA.
PredIspOsIng Causes and symptoms Of
the Disease.
DR.. j. G. Webster delivered lecture last
evening at the rooms Of the New York uni
versity, upon the causes of pestilence.
The doctor began by saying that the sub
ect was one Of great interest to the public
at the present time So absorbed had been
the country that nothing had been done to
prevent it. The pestilence had been pre-
vaiing in Europe during the past year, and
Judging from its previous history there was
every probability that it would visit this
country during the coming summer. No in
vestigation thus far had been able to stay its
progress; and yet every person at the pre-
sent time ought TO study its treatment and
symptoms. 1t was folly to shut our eyes
to the danger which menaced our city.
After continuing in this strain for some
time, by way of introduction, the doctor said
there were several questions which It sas
necessarily incumbent upon men Of science
TO decide:
/. How should the pestilence be prevented
from spreading
g How ought its pathology to be managed
5. How could it be prevented in individual
css-s?
The disease has three distinct periods the
incubation, the sinking, and, IN cases where
patients were saved, the reaction.
In general the symptoms Of the disease
were so marked that there was no danger Of
installing them for the symptoms Of any
other disorder. The disorder was generally
preceded by diarrhoa, the excrement yoided
being of yellowish &C .or and bilious in its
nature
This was just as really a stage Of the dis
order as was the aggravated stage Of the dis
ease called the stage Of invasion. If the
disease was met at this stage, there was very
little danger. The objections afterward be-
came Of different order, marked with gran
ulations similar in appearance to boiled rice
swimming in water. Agreat alteration now
comes over the appearance of the patient, 50
that even the patients most intimate friends
sometimes did not know him. The vomit
also assumed the same appearance as the
objections and in persons of strong vital
temperaments, cramps now interviewed,
which, having exhausted the system, the
period of collapse began. There was no per-
SEPARATION save cold, clammy danpness,
which bore little analogy to true and healthy
peIspirations The body at this stage ex-
hailed q cadaverous odor, and the patient
wished to sleep. The grasp of death was,
however, upon him, and already his funeral
knell was sounding in his ears.
A reaction might, however, intervene, ard
the patient might recover but this was only.
occasional
The spasmodic cont FACTIONS sometimes
continued after death giving rise in some
cases to singular superstition. In one or
two cases the eyes had been known to open
after death; in others, the hands had been
spasmedically lifted ard clasped upon me
breast and in not few cases bodies had
been known TO turn over in the coffin.
The period of disease varied from five or
six hours to five or six days; and patients
had been Known TO die even in the course Of
three hours After death the cadavers,
although carefully examined, had never pre-
scented any symptoms to throw light upon
the origin of the disease.
In general, the disease was seldom known
to attack persons of correct physiological
habits and good constitutions. There were
predisposing causes which must not be over
looked. An atmospheric loaded with animal
effiuvia was one of the elements by which
the disease was developed. The abodes Of
the poor, crowded with the vicious, intern
perate and squalid, were strongholds Of the
pestilence; and here men fell down and died,
and their bodies rotted where they lay, so
terribly rapid were the ravages of the demon.
The lecturer here entered into an elabor-
ate description Of the historical phases which
the disorder had presented. Dampness was
also predisposing cause. In the vicinity
of slaughter houses, distilleries and markets,
there was also increased danger and the
drinking of water containing animal matter
was at all times fraught with danger.
Another set Of canses were those which
debllitated the system. The taking Of quack
medicaments was great cause Of pestilence !;
and those persons who had been weakened
by excesses Of every kind were exceedingly
liable. Is
The doctor next alluded 10 the use Of al
coholic drinks as most dangerous preds-
posing cause, the alimentary canal becoming
intamed and unhealthy. narcotics should
also be avoided. Indigestion was also liable
IN epidemic times to terminate in disorder.
After some further discussion third class
Of predisposing causes, such as gluttinous
eating, drinking Of water in ton large quaH-
titles, insufficient clothing, nd so ON 4; and
to these must be added fear Of the disease,
winch last, was oiten OF Itself sufiicient to
cause an immediate attack.
In conclusion, the lecturer gave il as his
opinion hat the disease now dreaded was
not contiguous, but was communicated by
germs voided from the excretory processes
OF persons infected. al, h.af-.., q.
Names OF Days.--Their-Orska
IKE idols which our Saxon ancestors wor-
shipped, and from which the das Of the week
derive their names, wore various, and the
principal objects Of theta alteration. 4 Il.
The Idol Of the Sun.--This idol, which
represented the glorious luminasy Of the
day, was the chief object Of their wOrsip.. Il
is described like the bust Of man, set upon
a pillow, holding with outstretched arms, a
burning wheel before his breast. The FIST
day of the week was especially dedicated 70
its alteration, which they termed the Sssp'g