The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-05-09
The Cholera.

The following letter was written hy DR..
Hamlin, FOR many years a missionary at
COnstantinople, and whose experience in
treating cholera extended through three
visitatiOns OF that disease in Turkey:
DEAR SIR: The cholera, which has Just
lett Us, after committing fearful rayages -
making is way into Europe, and Will prob
ably cross the Atlantic before anOthev sum
mer has passed.
Having been providentiaNy compelled 10
have = good degree Of practical acQuaint-
ance with il. and 10 see il ID all is forms
ANA stages dnrlng each OF lis inva-iuus OF
C0nsiautlnOple, l wish 10 make 20 my
friends N Maine some suggestions. which
may relieve anxiety or be OF practical use
l. On the approach Of cholera every fam
lily should be prepared 10 treat II without
waiting for physician. Il does its work
so eXpeditiOusly that, while YOU are waiting
for the doctor, it is done.
II You prepare for il, II viii no, come.
think there Is no disease which nav be
avoided with 30 much certainty as the chOl-
era. But provident.al circumstances, or
the thOughtless indiscretiOn Of some member
Of a household, may invite the attack. ami
the challenge viii never he refused Ii
will probably be made IN the night. your
physicians will be called in another ilrcc-
rection, aud YOU must treat the case your
self or i viii be fatal.
CAUSE AND SYMPTOMS.
B. Cause of Anack-I have personally
investigated a. least hundred cases and
not less than three -iOurihs could he traced
directly 10 improper diet, or 10 Intoxicating
drinks, or TO both united. OF the remain
der, suppressed perspiration would COM
prise 4 large pumber. \ strong. healthy.
temperate labOring man had 4 severe at
tack OF cholera, and after The danger was
passed ] was curious 10 ascertain The cause.
He had been cautious and prudent IN his
diet. He used nothing intoxicating. His
residence was in a good locality But al
ter some hours OF hard labor and very pro-
fuse perspiratiOn he had lain down 10 take
his customary nap right against an open
window, through which a very refreshing
breeze was blowing. Another cause is
drinking largely of cold water when hot and
thirsty Great fatigue great anxiety, fright
fear all figure among melting causes. II
one can avoid all these he IS a. safe from
the cholera as from being swept away by
a comet.
4. Symptoms Of an. Auack'' While chol-
era IS prevalent IN place, almost every
Que experiences more or less disturbance
OF digestion Il is doubtless in part imag
mary. Every one notices the slightest Va
Ration Of feeling, and this gives an impor-
tance to mere triles. There are often a
slight nausea, or transient pains, or rum
bling sounds, when no attack follows. No
one Is entirely free from these. But when
diarThUa commences though painless and
slight, il is in reality the skirmishing party
of the advancing column. IL viii have at
first no single character Of Asiatic cholera.
But 30 not be deceived. Il is the cholera,
nevertheless. Wait = little, give il time TO
yet hold, say to yourself. &c ieel perfectly
well il viii soon pass oil, and in u short
time YOU viii repent OF your folly in vain. |
have seen many a One commit suicide IN
this way
Sometimes, though rarely. the attack
/ commences with vomiting. But in what
ever way Il commences IL Is sure TO hold on.
. In foW hours tho l.~tiont may sinh into
the collapse. The hands and feet become
cold anG purpllsh, the c0uutenance, al first
nervous and anxious, becomes gloomy aud
pathetic, although a mental restiessness and
raging thirst torment the sufferer while the
powers of life are ehbing. The intellect re
mains clear. but all the social and moral
feelings seem wonderfully TO collapse with
the physical powers. The patient knows,
he is TO die, but cares not snap about II.
In some cases, though rarely, the diar-
rh9a continues for a day or two. and the
foolish person keeps about, then suddenly
sinks. sends for physician, and before he
arrives dies a. the fool dieth.
COURSE or TREATMENT
l. For Stoppu.y TIE MctpieH Dsuyfh0a.
The mixture which / used in 1873 with
great success, and again In 1859, has dur
ing the epidemic been used by thousands.
and although the attacks have been more
sudden and violent, it has fully established
it, reputation Tor efficiency AMI perfect safe
~. Il consists OF equal parts. hy measure
OF one laudanum and spirits OF camphOr
two tincture Of ehubarb. Thirty drops fOl
an adult, on a lump or sugar will Otter
check the diarrhea. But, 10 prevent il.
return. care should always be taken 10 con
tinue the medicine every four hours IN III
minshing doses twenty-five, fifteen, ten
nine-when careful diet IS all that will be-
needed.
10 case the first does not stay the dlar
rhUa. continue 10 give increasing doses
] Unity ~ lDlLfr lvllN lNt- SlAi - ~ q
movement OF the bowels. Large doses vii
produce no injury while the diarrh9a lasts
When that IS checked then i the time 70
caution. l have never seen a case Of diar
hpa taken in season which was not thu
controlled, but some cases or advanced
diarrhGa. and especially a relapse, paid n
d heed 10 1t whatever. A. soon a. this become
apparent | have always resorted TO anOthe
% n az
az for use in starching linen, and stir int
it a full teaspOOnful Of laudanum for an in
: lection. Give One-third 1T each mOvemen
OF the bowels. In one desperate case
abandoned a. hopeless bv a physician
} could DOT stop the diarrhga until the sey
enth injection, which contained nearly
teaspoonful Of laudanum. TIE patient re
4 covered. and il 10 perfect health At n
same time l used prepared chalk IN ter
4 grain doses, with a few drops laudanuI
} and camphor 10 each. But. whateve
course j. pursued. il must be followed u
or the patient Is lost.
q ? Mtstqrl P0UticsS. These should
[ applied 10 the pit Of the stomach und kef
on till the surface j. well REDEEMED.
g. The patient, however well he may fec
should rigidly observe perfect rest To Ii
S quietly on the back IS one half OF the ba
tie. In that position the enemy fires owe
Z YOU. but the moment you rise YOU are hi
When attack comes in the form Of da
u rhea these directions Will enable every on
: TO meet 1t successfully.
!. But when the attack il more viOen
y and there Il vomiting, or vomiting al
purging. perhaps also cramps and col
: pains, the following mixture Is far mol
{ effective. and should always be resOrted 4
e The Observation-Disclosures Long. Troy
bridge and Washburn-have used II in vel
5 many cases and with wonderful success
d Il consists of equal parts OF laudanuH
tincture OF capscium, tncture OF ginC'
and tincture of cardamOn seeds. Dos
t thirty 10 forty drops. or a half q teaspoOnf
IN little water. and 10 be increased acc0
n ding 10 the urgency OF the case. Ia ca:
+ the first dose should De elected. the sc
Ond which should stand ready. should /
o given Immediately after the spasm OF vOu
Z ting has ceased. During this l4te chOiel
siege no one OF Us failed Of controlling q
vomiting and also tie purging by, at mos
" the third dose. We have, however. inv