Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-08-22

seems 70 De ~ THIS Tune threatening US all Sides
50 that we know not what day it may light in our
midst. Some, however, seem to entertain the idea
that the air of East Tennessee is too pure and her
mountains too sacred for the abode of disorder so
banefu High mountains and crystal waters. with
pure atmosphere, have failed to arrest it in other
countries, and, with the modern improvements for
travelling, which brings daily into cur midst persons
already carrying the disease from infected places it
seems hardly probable that we will be altogether
neglected. In view of these facts we thought
brief notice of the history nature and cause of eho
era, might not be undressing
Prior to the beginning of the present century this
was disease peculiar to India inAsia-hence call
ed India or Asiatic cholera where it had been
known for about two hundred years. However,
very ancient writers have described a disease the
symptoms of which were typic of if not identicaly
the same as the symptoms known to represent chol-
era now. Other names have been used, such
lignant, epidemic spasnotic, algide and cholera
ssphyxia, but all meaning the same. Though so
long known in India it attracted the attention
of the medical profession beyond itspresent limits
until it made its appearance in Bengal in 1917 from
which province it began its fearful march, climbing
mountains ascending rivers crossing deserts, lakes
and oceans, until it had encircled the globe. BUTT
was not until ls3o-3l and 3D. thatit became famil-
iarly and practically known by the physicians of
| Europe and America Asia having been thorough
y and mercilessly scourged it paused upon the con-
fines of Africa and Europe for several years asif to
recruit its stores of destruction In 1880 it crossed
over to Moscow visited St. Petersburg in 81, reach
ed London and Paris in 80, and in the same year
spanded the Atlantic ocean and appeared in Ameri-
ca, at Quebec, in Canada, June 9Th, sending de-
tachment June cath, to New York city From these
two points it spread westwardy along the lakes and
southwardly along the Atlantic coast and down the
great valley of the Mississippi until it had reached
the Gulf of Mexico over which it leaped and pour
| ed its most deadly ravages among the West India
Islands. During this time it searching out the
extreme nothern and southern provinces of Europe
and depopuating the regions of the Nlein Africa
Still it did not cease its endemic form in India. 1t
has since visited our Continent four times in 1884,
| l849, 1854 and 1866. Much more might be added
of interest but needlessly concerning the history and
disposition of cholera, but we turn attention to
that which is more important, the nature and
cause.
While our knowledge on these subjects is yet i'm
perfect, and while the Investigations though mad
by the most profound and scrutinizng minds of the
last half century, have not been satisfactory as
we would hope for still TO say that the Medical
profession knows nothing but little about cholera
is vile SANDER the perpetrators of which either
wicked aspersers, or they are persons deficient in
| knowledge and common sense, of whom the first
are sycophants and imposters, such as flooded Lon
in fbo Of MI with fhair
trums anti-plague cordials and panaceas ThesecoLd
class are but deluded subjects, who in to en-
rich and add notoriety to the former.
The nature and cure are subjects more interest
ing to the medical profession the cause and symp-
| toms are more important to the commercial world
while the materies morb, elements of the disease
| are beyond the ken of any Some eminent au-
thors and physicians have referred the nature Of
| cholera to an inhammatory condition of the mucous
| membrane of the alimentary canal while others
refer it to pathological condition of the Gus
functions especially those Of the ganglionc SYSTEM
and humorist discardng freight-cars and telegraph
wires seek passport by way of the fluids. Though
the mucous membrane of the prima vie is appa-
renty effected hrst still it is known that the func-
tions of circulation, nutrition, and secretion, are
SERIOUSLY lnNOlN6u dIu So tudL IL
may be question whether these are not the prima-
~ seat of attack Very soon, however, the excre-
tory function of the kidneys become implicated,
nervous symptoms set in and the patient dies fire.
quently of ura2mia. The ebsorbents lose their TO-
nicty the alimentary canal loses its protective ele
ments SO that the water with some other important
constituents of the blood are poured out The blood
! becomes thick disordered and dispropOrtioned, SO
that the lungs are impeded in their action, and the
surface becomes cold for want of due supply Of
fresh Originated blood. While post mortum
nations have enriched the pathology of the disease
chemical analysis has revealed many interesting
truths which serve beacon lights to lead the ply
sicians judgment to proper conclusions and to
surer results. For example, chemical anal ss shows
larger quantities than usual Of chloride of sodium
| in the alvine excavations, and at the time
superabundance of the same constituent appears in
the blood hence we conclude that this substance is
yielded at the expense of some organic tissue Mi
croscopic examinations show large quantities of
epithelium in the stools, while cadaveric examina-
tons reveal the esophagus and other parts of the
canal sometimes almost entirely denuded of epithe
lium,- Prof Horner,) and echymotic spots covered
with Dphtheritic exudation,-(P iragof.) Upon
these subjects volumes TEEN with medical literature
which is tedious and perplexing and can only in
| terest close investigating mind.
The disorder is considered to depend upon some
essential specific poison, which is supposed to be
both portable and ETHEREAL and there seem to be GER
tain conditions necessary at least favorable for
its incubation and reproduction. These conditions
are both atmosphercal and terene but the testimony
as to the latter being the most fit recipient to
preponderate Water is known to be a favorable
indus for poisons, from which the evaporatiOns
continually going on convey it to the air which is
q very favorable vehicle in the ratio Of its damp
ness Hence the danger of being exposed early of
mornings and late of evenings especially in damp
lowlands. Hence cellars and lower rooms of houses
are more dangerous to sleep or dwell in than those
on the second third floors, and the mortality is
| inversely as the altitude % In London the more
elevated situations were cacters parbus, safer in
proportion TO elevation" While vtciated and IN
wholesome air of our crowded houses and densely
populated districts and towns is to be considered
rather ssauxiliary in the predsposition ola commu-
nifty in its depressing influence the system, than
as an immediate cause we think there is for
reasonable inference that when polluted and impreg-
mated with cholera poison during rain the poison
will be washed down, and in cities, concentrated in
the cisterns out OF which water is obtained for drink
and culinary purposes. Thus the poison may not
only be breathed but received into the system per
oris.. This brings lis TO the terene conditions.
w. tbc -,,Pfa, Of tha l.