The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1866-05-12
The Cholera and its Treatment.

The Cholera and its Treatment
= The following letter from Rev. Cyru
Hamlin, d. D., who has been for man,
!, years resident in Constantinople, as
/ missionary of the American Board, t,
r the Christsan Mrro,', gives the bes
view of the cholera and its treatmen
that We have seen. AS the pestilence, j
1t has not already reached our shores, il
evidently making its way westward, i
is well for every one forewarned to bs
fOreaImed against it.
4 In q communication addressed to the
Mayor of Burlington, under date of No.
vember I'd, DR.. Thayer, Surgeon Genera
of the State says:
Cholera, in its westward course, is rap
idly approaching this continent, and in O
few months more may be sweeping
over this country, more fatal and wide
spread than ever before.
DEAR SIR: The cholera which has lust
left US, after committing fearful ravages
is making its way into Europe, and will
IprObably cross the Atlantic before ano-
ther summer has passed.
:, Having been proyidentially compelled
to have . good degree of practical ac-
acquaintance with it, and to see it in all
its form and stages during each of its in
vasions of Constantinople, wish to
make my friends in Maine some sugges-
gesti0ns which may relieve anxiety, OF
be of practical use.
LIST. On the approach of the cholera,
4 20 Oh Il 60
it without waiting for physician. 1t
does its work SO expeditiOusly, that
whileryou are waiting for the doctor it
is done. -, r.,.,.,..,..--,.. - r
I'd. If you prepare for it, it will not
come. think there is no disease which
may be avoided with so much certainty
Gs the cholera. Butprovidential circum-
stances, or the thoughtless indiscretion
Of some member of household, may in
vite the attack, and the challenge will
never be refused. It will probably be
made in the night, your physician has
been called In another direction, and you
must treat the case yourself or it will
prove fatal.
Sd. Causes Of attack. have person.
ally investigated at least a hundred ca
ses, and not less than three-fourths could
be traced directly to improper diet, or to
intoxicating drinks, or both united. OF
the remainder, suppressed perspiration
would comprise o large number. A
strong, healthy, temperate laboring man
had severe attack of the cholera, and
after the danger had passed was curl
ous to ascertain the cause He had been
cautious and prudent in his diet. He
used nothing intoxicating. His residence
was in good locality. But after some
hours of hard labor and very prefuse
perspiration, he laid down to take his
customary noon nap, right against an
open window through which a very re-
freshing breeze was blowing. An her
cause is drinking largely of cold water
when hot and thirsty. Great fatigue,
great anxiety, fright, fear, all figure
among melting causes. IfOne can avoid
all these he is as safe from cholera as
from being swept away by comet.
4th. Symptoms of attack. While chol-
era is prevalent in place, almost every
one experiences more or less disturbance
of digestion. 1t is doubtless in part ina
ginary. Every one notices the slightest
variation of feeling, and this gives an inn
portance to mere trifes. There is often
slight nausea, or transient pains, or
|rumbling sounds, when an attack follows.
10 one S ent3sely free from these. But
when diairrhea commences, though
painless and slight, it is in reality the
skirinishing party of the advancing
column. 1t will have at first no single
characteristic of the Asiatic cholera. But
do not be deceived. 1t is the cholera
nevertheless. Wait little, give it time
to get hold, say to yourself, II feel per-
fectly well, it will pass Off" and in
short time you will repent of your folly
in vain. have seen many one COM
nit suicide in this way.
Sometimes, though rarely, the attack
commences with vomiting. But in
whatever way it commences it is sure to
hold on. In avery few hours the patient
may sink into the collapse. The hands
and feet become cold and purplish, the
countenance, at first nervous and anX-
ious, becomes gloomy and aptahetic, al
though mental restleness and raging
thirst torment the sufferer while the
powers of life are ebbing. The intellect
remains, but all all the social and moral
feelings seem wonderfully to collapse
with the physical powers. The patient
knows he is to die, but cares not a snap
about it.
In some cases, though rarely, the diar-
foolish person keeps about, then sudden
ly sinks, sends for q physician, and be-
fore he arrives "dies as the fool dieth."
COURSE OF TREATMENT.
LIST. For stopping the iacipieat Diar-
yhea.-The mixture which l used in
184S with great success, and again in
1855, has during this epidemic been
used by thousands, and although the at
tacks have been more sudden and viO- |
lent, it has fully established its reputa-
ton for efficiency and perfect safety. 1t
consists of equal parts by measure OIL.
Laudanum and spirits of camphor; 2.
'Tincture Of rhubard. 30 drops for an
adult, on Q lump of sugar, will often
check the diarrhea. But to prevent its
return, care should be taken to continue
the medicine every four hours, in dimin-
ishing doses, %, 20, Is, 10, 5, when care
full diet is all that will be needed.
In case the first does not stop the diar.
rhea, continue to give increasing doses,
s. 40, 4, GO, at every movement Of the
bowels. Large doses will produce no
injury while the diarrhea lasts. When |
that is checked, then Ii the time for eau |
ton. / have never seen q case Of the
aiarrhea taken in season which was not
thus controlled, but some cases Of the
advanced diarrhea, and especially of re-
lapse. paid no heed TO it whatever. AS
soon as this becomes apparent, have al
wavs resorted TO this course. Prepare
a tescup of starch, boiled as for use in
starching linen, and stir in it full tea
spoonful of laudnum, for injection. Give
one-t third at each movement of the bow
els. In one desperate case, abandoned
as hopeless by physician, 1 could not
stop the diarrhea until the seventh injec-
ton, which contained nearly teaspoon
full of laudnum. The patient recovered
and is in perfect health. At the same
time l use prepared chalk in ten grain
doses, with a few drops of laudnum and
calnphor to each. But whatever course
is pursued must be followed up, and the
diarrhea controlled, or the patient is lost.
II.