The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-06
THE CHQLHnA.

The question of the coming OF the
cholera" as summer approaches, is ex-
citing much discussion in Atlantic
cities. which are the first points that
will be exposed to Its ravages when it
makes its appearance. Many theories
are advanced by medical men in respect
to the nature of the disease, it's causes
and the means Of cure or prevention.
The latest question we have heard asked
IL whether it 10 q contagious disease or
not; and on this subject we publish an
able paper from DR.. Jacob Bigelow Of
Boston, one OF the most eminent ply
sicians Of the country, which we find ia
the Boston Medical and Surgical
Journal. The Doctor appears to ex-
haust the subject, and treats it with as
much skill az he would exercise in
curing patient. One thing is certain,
whether it be contagious, infectious or
we take it "just So" it is likely to make
its appearance in Norfolk. during this
spring or midsummer, and if our streets
and alleys and the back premises of our
dwellings are not put i'm order and kept
in state of the most perfect cleanliness,
our population will suffer as terribly as
1t did from the effects of yellow fever in
1865. We have ourselves seen a great
deal of the cholera and witnessed much
ofits treatment; but have never been
subjected to the disease although ex-
posed in all forms to contagious in
'fluences. We do not think it is COM
municable from one person to another;
were it 80, there would be few
nurses found courageous enough to run
.sthe risk Of attending patients );
but it is generally noticed that those
who have the least fear of the
monster generally escape its attacks.
Like other dangers, the best way is to
boldly confront it il you would put it to
flight. Imagination kills many a weak
nerved person during the prevalence Of
epidemics. Ithas been fully established
by medical science that a perfectly we'll
man can be 30 operated upon through
his fears that he will contract the disease
and perish, even in times when epidsm-
les do not prevail. Those persons of reg
ular habits, and those localities where
cleanliness is the rule and not the ex-
ception, are the persons and places most
likely to escape. BY this rule, Norfolk
and its vicinity should sndeavor to be
guided. ai. ap
Cholera is very cratic, however. in
its course. In 1S49, when it visited this
country, it suddenly attacked Browns
vile, town of several thousand inhabi.
tants, and founded within the previous
six months on the Rio Grande, Just OPP
posite the Mexican city of Mata.noros.
Brownsville had no direct foreign COW
merce, as all vessels, whether from A
erican or foreign ports, landed at the is
land of Brazos de Santiago, thirty miles
distant on the coast; but cholera did not
appear on the coast till several weeks
after 1t had destroyed two-thirds of the
people of Brownsville, In the interior
and then it neutrality-suspicious. at Brazos,
which is very clean ssnd-bank, and
here there were some two hundred
cases, out of population of less than
four hundred-principally sailors and
men belonging to the government
service. There was but little filth
there. but Brownsville was rather
dirty, SO we are told. .lr9rei'i5 ~
The strangest thing in the world