The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-02-02
The Durable Stage of Cholera.


from which we quote the following:
"Bsfore,n saws M. Guerin. "the epidemic
of cholera which ravaged Europe in 1882, 1t |
was generally admitted that this terrible |
scourge attacked it's victims in the most sud |
dan manner, and struck them down with
degree of violence that was only comparable
to the effects of a lightning stroke. All the
writings of this period take up this view OF
the disease, Meanwhile, at the commence
msnt of the epidemic of 1882, perceived
that it was quite otherwise. About week
after the appearance of the disease wrote In
the following terms TO the Gazette 1hedscafe
Most of the patients attacked with the chol-
era have been for several days, or even weeks,
lsboring under disturbed condition of the
digestive organs, which did not appear sum
GENTLY serious to them to deserve careful at
tention; such even has been their careless
ness on this point that we have often oeen
obliged TO question them very closely In or
der to elicit information from them. 1t Is
ONLY after having been asked three or four
times whether they have had dlarrhoea stnat
they give q satisfactory reply. From TINS we
conclude, ~ That in many cases where this
diarrhoea has not been noted there Is reason
to suspect oarelessness IN observation on the
part Of the patient. (2) That this diarrh@a,
the nrecursor of cholera, should receive the
careful attention of medical men, parents,
and even of the authorities, who should rec
ommend to the poorer ciasses-and puolsh
the recommendations by all the means at
their disposal-to pay proper attention TO
this state of the digestive system and shoulo
make known to them the fatal consequences
of neglecting to treat the dIarrhteai sttacK'
This opinion, which had its origin IN facts.
was developed and confirmed by them. In
proportion as the patients crowded into the
wards of the Hotel Dieu. where L especially
carried on my observations, my convic6ion
became more and more strengthened Out
of 600 patients questioned IN the most care
full manner, $40 had show symptoms OF ch0t-
crime (premonitory diarrhoea) before their en-
try into the hospital From this concluded
on the 18th of April:
~ THAT cholera is always preceded and
announced by a series of symptoms, to which
with q desire to caution the public have
given the name of cholerine.
(2l "That choerine is the first stage OF
cholera.
(3) THAT cholera, properly so called, is
only an advanced stage of disease which has
hitherto been unknown in its first or premon-
itory period
f4 "lhat it as Always possible to arrest
the deuelopenaent of the mortal stage OF cholera
by attacking the disease an ats curdbte one.
1.-THE existence of prodronlc or Fremont
tory period in cholera is certain. This truth
was accented and admitted the period II
it's announcement by the majority of physl-
clans, The exceptions have hardly an exist
enee, and are more apparent than real, being
due to the absence of powers Of careful Obser-
walton on the part of the patients
Since 1882 there have been at short IN
tervals three new epidemics OF Cholera
Moreover, this dreadful msiady has spread
during the same period, or successfully, over
nt Eurnna -
Has it in every instance conformed to the
laws of it's first evolution? Has the prod
romic or premoritory period always preceded
the mortal stage of this disease? IL ls OF the
highest importance that the reply TO these
questions should besin the affirmative. For
if this view--regarded In It's origin as one OF
the conQuests of science and benehS 10 ho-
msnitv-receves from all recorded observa-
tion the character of an unimpeachable truth,
it is essential that it be published IN all pop
rlations and countries, as afTordlng hheet
anchor (asne ancre de s0Jut) in the perlls
which menace human beings. Now, having
been requested by the Academy OF Medicine
to superintend the general report upon the
epideuics of cholera, have been placed IN
nossession of ell the scientific documents,
home and foreign. relating to the subject
The result of an examination of these nave
the honor to communicate TO the academy.-
Commencing with England, we ind the 10!
lowing remarks in the report of the General
Board OF Health published IN iooO: " nat
ever doubts there may have been during the
endemic of 1882 as to the existence of prod
rOmic SYMPTOMS (diarrhOea) the experience
of the last epidemic solves the question cous-
rleteIv In one case where the first syn1p
toms were infinitely inquired into. 1t was
found that of 500 patients almost all, without
exception, had been previously attacked by
oholeraic diarrhoea of ten or twelve days
duration. Dr. Burrows states that the re
plies of the patients showed that the rice
water discharge of cholera was always pre-
coded by others of a different though IN
healthy, character. DIR. M'Loughlin states
Il believe am correct in concluding, that of
3.902 cases of cholera, I hare not found one
soithout prodronsic diarrAoeG. "@
I'm France there are the same conirma
tions as in England. NJ NJ. Levy found that
of l42 patients lat the Hospital of Val de-
Grace, there were only six without prodrom-
ic symptoms In 90 cases the diarrhua had
lasted for two, three, four, and even great
er number of days. A general inquiry, insti
tuted by the 'Comite CONSULATE d'Hygiene,
during the epidemic of 1858, gives the fol-
lowing as part of It's report:
From the first OF November 1858. to the
22nd of January, 1854. of 974 choleraic pa
tients admitted to the hospitals of the capit-
al, TAO had been attacked with premonitory
diarrhaa. the others appeared exempt, or
were unable to give exact evidence
ITO these authentic statements may add
those which have been made by the different
departments of France in reply to the cues
tions of the authorities. Almost all the 10
cal physicians answer that cholera common
ces in the great ma Ioritv of cases by diar-
rhoea and other premonltory symptoms. The
cases of sudden cholera, if they really exist,
do not exceed or per cent"