Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-03-15
GHNDkERA "a
now TO PREVENT Or CURE 1T,
Dr. Mamliu's Letter from Con-
etaNtinOpte.

Dskk cIH: Inc ch0iera wnlcn mas just n
left us after committing fearful ravsges, is ,
making its way into Europe, and will prob
ably cross the Atlantic before another sum
mer has passed.
Having been providentally compelled to
have good degree OF practical acquaint.
ance with il, and 10 see it in all its forms aud
stages during each Of its invssions of Con-
s,antinopie. wish to make to my friends in
Maine some suggestions which may relieve
anxiety or be Of practical use.
lst. On the approach of the cholera,
every family should be prepared to treat it
without waiting for a physician. 1t does
its work so expeditiously. that while you are
waiting for the doctor it is done.
ID. Ifyou prepare for it, it will not come. |
/ think there is no disease which may be |
avoided with so much certainty as the |
cholera. But prOvidential circumstances, |
or the thoughtless indiscretions Of some |
member Of q household may invite the at |
tack, and the challenge will never be refused
1t will probably be made in the night, your
physician has been called in another direc
ten, and you must treat the case yourself
or it will be fatal
Sd. Causes of attack. have personally
Investigated at least hundred CASES, and
not less than three.fourths could be traced
directly TO improper diet, or to intoxicating
drinks, or 10 both united. OF the remain
der, suppressed perspiration would COM
prise . great number. A strong, healthy,
temperate, taborlng man had severe at
tack Of cholera, and after the danger had
passed l was curious 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 profuse
perspiration, he had lain down to take his
customary nap right against an open wndoE
through which very refreshing breeze was
blowing. Another cause is drinking large
ly of cold water when hot and thirsty. -.
Great fatigue, great anxiety, fright, fear,
all agurs, among exciting causes. If one
can avoid oil these he is as safe from the chol-
era as from being swept away by a comet.
4th. Symptoms Of an attack. While
cholera Is prevalent in place almost every
one experiences more or less disturbance of
digestion. 1t is dou bllcss in part imaginary.
livery one Rotices the slightest variation Of
feeling, and this gives an Importance to
mere tribes. There Is often slight nausea
or transient pains, or rumblinq sounds when
no attack follows. No one is entirely free
from these. But when diarrhea commences.
though painless and slight. it is in reality
the diminishing party of the advancing
column. 1t will have at first no single char
scteristle OF Aslatic cholera. But do not
bs deceived. 1t is the cholera nevertheless
Wait little, give it time to get hold say
to yourself 81 feel perfectly we'll, it will
soon pass oil, and in short time you will
repent Of your folly in vain. I have seen
many . ono commit suicide in this way.
Somstimes, though rarely. the attack
commeuces with vomiting. But in what
ever way 1t commences il is sure to hold on.
lus very few hours the patient may sink
into the collapse. The hands and feet be.
come cold aud purplish, the eonntenance at
frst nervous and anxious, becomes gloomy
and apathstic, though a mental restiessness
and raging thirst torment the sufferer while
the powers Of life ars ebbing The intellect
remains clear, but all the social and moral
feelings sesn wonderfully TO collapse with
the physical powers. The patient knows
he Is to die, but cares not snap abeut it,
In some cases, though rarely, the diarrhea
continues for day or two, and the foolish
persan keeps about, then suddenly sinks,
sends for physician, and before he arrives,
dies as the fool dieth."
COURSE OF TREATMENT.
lst. For stopping the incipient disrrhea.
The mixture which | used in IS4S with
great success, and again in 1858, has during
this pidemc boen used by thousands, and
although tho attacks have been more sud
den aud violent, it has fully established its
reputation for efficiency and perfect safety.
il consists Of equal parts by measure of
laudanum aud spirits Of csmphor and tine
ture Of rhubarb. Thirty drops for an adult,
on lump OF sugar, will often check tho
diarrhea. But to prevent its return, care
should always be taken TO continue the
medicine every four hours in diminishing
doses IS, 20, Is, 10. Q, when careful diet is
al that will be needed
In ease the first dose does not stay the
dlarrhsa. continue to give increasing doses,
IS, 40, IS, 80, at every movement Of the
bswels. Large doses will produce no injury
while the diarrhcs lasts. When that is
checked then is the time for caution. |
have never seen . case Of diarrhea taken in
season which was not thus controlled, but
come eases Of advanced diarrhea, aud cspe.
cially OF relapse, paid no heed to il whatever.
As soon as this becomes apparent, | have
always resorted 10 this course. Prepare
teacap Of starch boiled as for use IN starch.
ing linen, And stir into it a full tcaspoonful
OF flaadsnum for an injection. Give one third
st each movement Of the bowels. In one
desperate case abandoned as homeless by n
physician, could not stop the diarrhea un-
oil the seventh injection, which contained
nearly teasp ,onful Of flaudanum. The pa.
tieat recovered and is in perfect hoalth. AT
the same time use prepared chalk in ten.
grain doses with few drops of laudanum
and csmphor to each. But whatever
course is pursued it must be followed up,
and the diarrhea controlled, or the patient
Is lost
"a. Mustard roulticss. Those should be
applisd to the pit Of the stomach aud kept
On till the surface is well reddened.
Sd. The patient, however well he may
feel, should rigidly observe perfect rest. Ia
he quietly on the back is one-half the bat
tie. la that position the enemy fires over
ysu, but the m1nent you rise you are hit.
When the attack comes ia the form OF
diarrhea, these directions will enable every
sae TO meet IL successfully.
4. Bot when the attack is more violent,
and there is vomiting, OF vomiting aud burg.
ing, perhaps also cramps aud collie pains,
the following mixture is lar more effective
aud shsnld always ba rosoIteA to- The mis-
siensriss. Messrs Long, Trowbridge aud
Washburn. have used il ia very many case,
snd with wonderful success. IL consists Of
EQUAL parts OF laudsnum, tincture of capsi