Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-08-03
MAno~NTT CHOLEnA-NO.4 4.
nY PROF. A. P. BUTCHER, N. D.

The symptoms of cholera as described in
our last number, are so unique as to be
easily recognized at the ed-side of the pa
tient, by any one who is in the habit of
waiting upon the sick. Yet the disease is
so terrible and fatal in its character, that
even physicians sometimes forget that or
binary diseases of the alimentary canal
may be eonfounded with it. In fact many
isolated cases of disease of the stomach and
intostines present symptoms very similar,
and it is only by careful investigation, that
even one skilled in the art of medical dag
nosis, can distinguish between them.
It has often been observed, that during
the ~prevalence Of malignant cholera, most
forms of disease take on the appearance of
cholera. Particularly is this the case with
the diarrhea and vomiting which occurs
in typhoid fever; during the prev alenco of
cholera they may be taken ior symptoms of
it, and the case may be regarded as genuine
cholera. But if the patient have not pro-
fuse rice-water discharges from the bowels,
and the characteristic vomiting, the dimin-
ished temperature of the body, the marked
blue color of the skin, and the general col
lapse, we may conclude with certainty that
| cholera is not present.
Not the diarrhGe, the vomiting, the di-
minished temperature of the body or the
| BLUSH c~oloring of the skin, alone, ever if
they are all present viii warrant US in pro-
nouncing it a case Of m%alignent eholers, for
these may all be present in cholera mOrbus;
| krE rafhar thu rarTdTEr With which rbazn
follow, the enc after the other, viii the
presence of the disease be made out. The
vomiting must be quickly followed By diar-
rhoa, and there must be great abatement
Of the temperature of the bOdy-so as to
produce striking and almost immediate col
lapse, following in a very short space Of
time with the blush tinge Of the surface,
and the loss of pulse, before we can pro-
nounce with certainty that malignant
cholera is present.
Hence among the most constantly appear
ing symptoms OF epidemic cholera are the
vomiting and purging Of rice-water fluid,
in which there are many epithetieal flakes
suspended, q quick feeble pulse, a sunken
aye, q cold tongue and breath, 4 marble
GOODNESS Of the body, especially Of the hands
and feet, and also the extremely blush col
oring of the covering of the body, the loss of
| elasticity of the skin and its remaining in
folds when piuched up, all tell US in Ian
guage not 70 DO misunderstood that the
dreaded malady has already commenced
its fearful mutations and unless speedily ar
rested death will soon claim his victim.
We have already observed in our first
number, that &c form OF pestilenee has ever
| exceeded This in mortality. 1t is true that
in particularsl0calities it has assumed a
comparatively less fatal type. Il is also
true that by proper attention to the ssni-
tary Surroundings. the wants of the sick
and q prompt and skilful employment of
remedies, many lives are saved. But not
withstanding all this the ratio of deaths in
malignant cholera is truly frightfui, vary
ing from twenty five TO fifty and even sew
enty per cent if we select for the basis Of
our calculation documents that sre reliable.
1 am aware, however, that you will fre-
quently hear physicians claim to nave en-
loyed greater success with a special mode of
medical treatment, that would be utterly
incredible, even if affirmed of the common
and slight diseases which aiflict the human
system.
No class of individuals have been so noisy
and made louder p~retentions of their ability
to cure malignant cholera than the advO-
Gates of homeopathy. | have now before
me one of the most popular religious jour
mails of our day, the Independent, which con-
tains a lengthy article on epidemic cholera,
in which the writer claims that, under
homeopathic treatment more than ninety
per cent. recover. He Is quite modest in
comparison with DR.. Charge, a celebrated
French homeopathic, who IN 1885 stated in
the public journals of Paris and Bordeaux,
that he had not lost one patient out of sew
eral hundred. Marx the result Of his prac-
tice when made under circumstances where
L 4hara nnT1I ha Ia AaaanFfop aud "a, r-S11
see the folly and wickedness of such pre-
tentions.
In 1855, when cholera r~e-apPeared in
Paris, the medical authorities of the city,
feeling anxious 10 test the virtues of home q,
patty in CHOLERA, invited DR.. Charge TO take
the management of one Of the wards of the
Hotel Dieu. He consented, and there, as
sisted by one Of his colleagues, in h3mp-
pathy, by pharmscians, and by some young
people his adopts, who devoted themselves
to tending the patients, he obtained the re-
suit which night have been anticipated
from this impotent system of practice. OF
&c cholera patients admitted, 81 died, and
DR.. Charge withdrew. To render the ex-
| pertinent conclusive, q ward had been set
apart, in which the patients were treated
/ by rational means, which did not profess to
work wonders. During the same period, of
25 patients but IA died. Each ward had its
turn of reception. Such experiments prove
the utter worthlessness of homeopathy in
malignant cholera, and he who trusts in its
p%retentions is not a wise man,
In estimating the result of cholera in
individual cases, every thing will depend
upon the degree Of collapse, and our abil-
| ity to rescue the patient from this almost
helpless condition. Ii tho disease is ARES
| ted before h falls into this state all is well !:
the system soon gathers up its lost energies,
the last vestsge OF the enemy is expelled
from the citidal Of life, and the victorious
banner of health once more waves over ali.
The intensity Of the collapse is always =
very accurate measure of danger. The
vomiting or purging is not always to be so
! much dreaded as some other symptoms.
The total suppression of the urine is regard
ed by all writers as q fatal symptom so
also is marked GOODNESS of tie tongue,
mouth and breath and the sudden appear
ance of the hands and feet. Vascular re-
action sHd the return of the excretions, as
the bile in the excavations, and Of urine,
afford us the best hope of recovery.
oJourn de Med. ct de Chirurg. Prat. Oct. 1855.
RECORD OF CEmE-The following is a re-
port of the proceedings of the Police Court
for the month Of July, 1866;
To the Common Council:
City Cases
Number Of persons arraigncd 81
State Gases
Number of persons rraigned- G5
Number of State Examinations ..... --.. Is
Total number a~rraigned before Court- 4Of
City Cases
Amount Of fines 90
Amount Of costs assessed. so
Total amount Of assessments ----..--...---s9 so
Amount Of fines collected $50 90
Amount Of costs collected $50 o.
Total amount O6
Amount Of fees paid witnesses. -.. ........ - 80
Balance paid into City Treasury-.....SsO2 sc
State Cases
Amount 0. fines 90
Amount Of costs assessed 2Ai SO
Amount Of cOsts-State eXaminati ons.-....-. 29 o.
Total amount OF fines and osts-.----.ssa2 SO
Amount Of fines collected -.--.----..-----...-.- Ice 90
Amount Of costs collected elS 50
Total amount collected. and same paid into