Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-13
eHoBERA.
How TO Prevent OF Cure It---Dr. Hamlin's Letter
from ConstantinOple.
To the Editor of the Christian Mirror:


To the Editor Of the ChriStiGH Mirror:
DEAR SIR: The cholera, after committing fearful
ravapes making its way into Europe and will pro-
badly cross the Atlantic before another Summer has
passed.
Having been provdentially compelled to have a
good degree of practical acquaintance with IT, and
70 see il in all It's forms and stages during each OF
its inyasions of ConstantinOpe, wish TO make to
nv friends in the United States some suggestions
which may relieve anxiety or be OF practical use.
LIST On the approach of the cholera, every family
shoud be preped to treat it without waiting for a
physician. II does it work so eNpeditiously that
while YOU are waiting for the doctor it is done.
%. If you prepare for it il will not come: think
there is no disease which may be avoided with so
much certainty as the cholera: But provldentlal
circumstances or the thoughtless indiscretiOns of
some member of a household may invite the attack,
and the challenge will be refused twill pro-
badly be made in the night urphysician has been
called in another direction, and you must treat the
case yourself or it will be fatal.
3D. Causes of Attack. have personally investi-
rated AT least a hundred cases, and not less than
tbree.fourths could he traced directly 10 improper
diet or to intoxicating drinks. or TO both united
OF the remainder, suppressed persplration would
comprise a great number. \ strong, healthy, tenn
perate laborng man had severe attack OF cholera,
and, after the danger had passed, | was curious to
ascertain the cause. He had been cautious and pru-
dent in his Diet He used nothing Intoxicating
His residence was in good locality. But after
some hours of hard labor and very proiuse perspra
ton, he had lain down TO take his customary nap
right against an open window through which very
refreshing breeze was blowing. Another cause Is
drinking largely of cold water when hot and thirsty.
Great fatigue, great anxiety fright, fear all figure
among exciting causes. If cne can avoid all these
he is as safe from the cholera as from being swept
away by comet.
4th. Symptoms of an attack. While cholera is
prevalent in place, almost every Que experiences
more or less dsturbancoOf digestion. 1t is doubt
less in mart imaginary Every one notices the slight
est variation of feeling, and this gives an Importance
TO mere trihes. There is often slight nausea, or
transient pains or rumbling sounds when no attack
follows. No one is entirely free from these. But
when darhea commences, though painless and
slight il is in reality the skrmishing party of the ad
yancing column. Ii will have at first no single char
acteristc of Asiatic cholera But do not be deceived
bit is the cholera nevertheless Wait little, give it
time to get hold, say TO yourself " feel perfectly
we'll it will soon pass of" and in short time you
will repent of your folly in vain. have seen many
a one commit suicide in this way.
Sometimes though rarely, the attack commenccs
with vomiting But in whatever way il commences,
il is sure to hold on Ina very few hours the patient
NAV sink into the collapse. The hands and feet be-
come cold and purplish, the countenance at first
nervous and anxious, becomes gloomy and apathetic,
though mental restlessness aud raging thirst tor
ment the sufferer while the powers of life are ehhing.
The intellect remains clear but all the social and
moral feelings seem wonderfully to collapse with
the physical powers The patient knows lie Is 10 dle'
but cares not a snap about II.
In some cases, though rarely the diarrhea con-
tnues for day or two and the foolish person 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 diarrhea. The
mixture which used in lS4S with great success and
l,,1 40 amid IL haan cd hr
thousands, and although the attacks have been more
sudden and violent it has fully established its repu
taton for efficiency and perfect safety 1t consists
of equal parts by measure of laudanum and spirits
of camphor and tincture of rhubarb, Thirty drops
for an adult, on lump Of sugar will often check
the diarrhea But TO prevent its return, should
always be taken TO continue the medicine every four
hours in diminishing doses, D. 20, 10, III, 9, when
careful diet is all that will be needed.
In case the first dose does not stay the diarrh0a
continue to give increasing doses, 40, 4O DO, 6O at
every movement of the bowels. Large doses will
produce no injury while the diarrhea lasts When
that is checked then is the time for caution. have
never seen case of diarrhea taken III season which
was not thus Controlled, but some cases of advanced
diarrhea and especially of relapse paid no heed to it
whatever. As soon as this becomes apparent, l have
ALWAYS reSorted TO this course. Prepare teacup OF
starch boiled as for in starching linen, and stir
into it full teaspoonfu of laudanum for an inJec-
ton Give onc-third at each movement OF the bow
els In one desperate case abandoned as hopeless
by physician, l could not stop the diaThea until
the seventh injection, which contained nearly tea
spoonfu of laudanum. The patient recovered aAd
is in perfect health At the same time use prepared
chalk in ten grain doses, with few drops OF lauda-
num and camphor to each, But whatever course is
pursued it must be followed up, and the dlarrhea
controlled, or the patient is lost.
ID. Mustard Poultices. These should be applied
TO the pit of the stomach and kept on till the sur
face is well Redeemed.
Cd. The patient, however we'll he may feel, should
rigidly observe perfect rest. To lie quietly on the
back is one.haf the battle In that position the en-
emy fires over you, but the moment you rise you are
hit.
When the attack cames IL the form of dianhea,
these objections will enable every one to meet 1t
successfully
4th. But when the attack is more violent and
there is vomiting, or vomiting and purgng, perhaps
also cramps and collie pains, the following mixture
is far more effective and should always be resOrted
to. Inconsistencies, MeSsrs Long, Trowbridge and
WaShbum, have used it in very many cases and
with wonderful success 1t consists of equal parts
of laudanum, tincture of capScum, tncture OF GIN
ger and tncture of cardamom seeds Dose, thirty
or forty drops, or half teaspooniul in little wa
ter and to be increased according to the urgency OF
the case In case the first dose should be elected,
the second, which should stand ready, should be
given Immediately after the spasm OF vomiting has
ceased During this late cholera siege, no one OF us
tnlleu OF COuuulliHB lnc NOHIlllHS anu dloo thS
purging, by, at most the third dose. We have,
however invariably made use of large mustard
poultices, of strong, pure mustard applied to the
stomach, bowels CALVES 9f the ega, ieet &c. as the
case seemed to require.
Collapse. This is simply more advanced stage
of the disease. 1t indicates the gradual filling of all
the powers of life 1t is difficult to say when case
has become hopeless, At certain point the body
of the patient begins to emit peculiar odOr, which
| call the death OdOT, for when that has become
decided and unmistakable, have never known the
patient to recover. have repeatedly worked upon
such cases for hours with no permanent result. But
the blue color the cold eXtremties the deeply sunk
ell eve the vanishing pulse no signs that the case
is hopeless Scores of such cases in the recent cpl
demic have recovered. In addition 10 the second
mixture, brandy-a tablespoonful every haitian
hour-bottles of hot water surrounding the patient
especially the eXtremities, snaplsns and friction
will often, in an hour or two work wonders.
Thirst In these, and in all advanced cases. thirst
creates intense suffering. The sufferer Graves water
and as as he gratiies 1t the worst symptoms re-
turn and lie falls victim to the transient gratitca.
ton. Tho only safe way Is TO have faithful friend
or attendant who will not heeG his entreaties The
suffering may be, however safely aeviated and rem
dered endurable. Frequent gargling OF the throat
and washing ont the mouth will bring some relief
spoonful of Gum Arabic water, or OF ChamOmile
tea may frequently be given to wet the throat Lyn-
denham's White Decoction" may also be given both
as Il beverage anu HOulIohhChb III
frequently. In a day or two the suffering from
thirst will cease In large majority it has not been
intense for more than twenty-four hours
Diet Rice water, arrowroot Lyndenhams White
Decoction crust water chamomile tea, are the best
articles for day or two after the attack is con-
troled Chamomile is very valuable in restoring the
tone of the stOmach
The Typhoid Fever A typhoid state for few
days will follow all severe cases There is nothing
alarming in this. 1t has very rarely proved fatal
Patience and careful nursing will bring it all right
The greatest danger is from drinking too freely.
When the patient seemed TO be sinking, little BRAN
DIV and water or arOwroOt and brandy have revived
MIN. In this terrible visitation of the cholera, we
have considered ourselves perfectly armed and
equipped, with hand bag containing mixture No.
L. mixture No. ., (for vomiting ETC.. few pounds
of pounded mustard, bottle of brandy and pa
per of Chamomile flowers, and a paper of Gum
Arabic
] lay no claim to originality in recommending
this course of treatment. Il have adopted il from
suggestions of able and experienced physicians
Having been the only doctor of many poor families
living near me- have tried various remedies recon-
mended bv physicians, but have found none TO be
at all compared with the above. During the recent
cholera cannot find that any treatment has been so
successful as this.
Contagon The idea of contagion should be
abandoned. All the missionaries, who have been
most with the malignant cases day after day, are
fully convinced of the nOn-contagiOusness OF the
cholera The incipient attacks which all have sui