Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-05-10
G"OHlERA.
HOW TO PREVENT OR CURE 1T.

DIR. HAMLIN's LETTER FROM ceNsTANTI
RoPLE.
Below we reprint the admirable letter Of
DR.. Hamliu, on Cholera and its Treatment,
from the CHRONICLE Of March Is. The
writer OF this letter, who is Missionary OF
the American Board at Constantinople, has
had extensive experience with the cholera,
and his advice as to its treatment has been
commended by the best physicians in this
country. The prescriptions given should
be procured in advance and held ready for
use in case Of emergency. These are simple,
and may be obtained at any drug store.
10 the Editor of the G Christian Mirror.
DEAR SIR: The cholera which has just
left us after committing fearful rsvagcs, is
making its way into Europe, and will prob.
ably cross the Atlantic before another sum-
mer has passed.
Having been providentially compelled to
have good degree of practical acquaint
ance with it, and to see it in all its forms and
stages during each of its invasions of Con
stantinople, l wish to make to my friends in
Maine some suggestions which may relieve
anxiety or be of practical use f
lst. On the approach Of the cholera,
every family should be prepared to treat il
without waiting for a physician. II does
its work so expeditiously, that while you
are waiting for the doctor it is done.
Sd. you prepare forit, it will not come.
think there is no disease which may be
avoided with so much certainty as the chol
era. But providential circumstances. or
the thoughtless indiscretions of some mem
Der of household may invite the attack,
and the challenge will never be refused, 1t
will probably be made in the night, your
physician has been called in another direc-
ton. and yeu must treat tho case yourself
or it will be fatal. .,,.
3d. Causes of attack I have personal
ly investigated at least a hundred cases, and
not less than three.fourths could be traced
directly to improper diet, or to Intoxicating
drinks, or to both united. Of the remain
der, suppressed perspiratioH would COM
prise a great number. A strong, healthy,
temperate laboring man had a severe at.
tack Of chelera, and after the danger had
passed was curious to ascertain the cause.
He had been cautious and prudent in bis
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 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 one can avoid
all these he is as safe from the cholera as
from being swept away by a comet.
4th Symptoms of an attack. While
cholera is prevalent in a place almost every
one experiences more or less disturbance of
digestion. 1t is doubtless in part imapinary
Every one notices the slightest variation OF
feeling, and this gives an Importance to
mere trifes There is often slight nausea,
or transient pains, or rumbling 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 skirmishing party of the advancing
column. 1t will have at first no singh char
acteristic of Asiatic cholera But do not be
Wait little. give it time to get hold, say
to yourself II feel perfectly we'll. it will soon
pass of, aud in short time you will re-
pent of your folly in vain. have seen
many one commit suicide in this way.
Sometimes, though rarely, the attack
commences with vomiting. But in what
ever way it commences it is sure to hold on.
In very few hours tho patient may sink
into the collapse. The hands and feet be
come cold and purplish, the cpuntenance at
first nervous and anxious, becomes gloomy
and apathetic, though mental restlessness
and raging thirst torment the sufferer while
the powers of life are ebbing The intellect
remains clear, but all the social and neral
feelings seem wonderfully to collapse with
the physical powers. The patient knows
he is to die, but cares not snap about it.
In some cases, though rarely, the diarrhea
continues for day or two, and the foolish
person keeps about, then suddenly sinks,
sends for physician, and before he arris es,
dies as the fool dieth."
COURSE OF TREATMENT.
1st. For stopping the incipieut diarrhea.
The mixture which used in lS4S with great
success, and again in 1855, has during this
epidemic been used by thousands, and al
thongh the attacks have been more sudden
and violent. it has fully established its repu
tation for efficiency and perfect safety. Il
consists of equal parts by measure OF lauda
mum and spirits of camphor and tincture O
rhubarb. Thirty drops for an adult on !
lump of sugar, will often check the diarrhea
DuL 10 Dr6Vtut us TUtuiu, OutU Suouiu o'Woy
be taken to continue the medicine every
four hours in diminishing doses 25, is, 10
9. when careful diet is all that will be need
ed
In case the first dose does not stay thu
diarrhea, continue to give increasing doses
35, 40. As, 60, at every movement of thu
bowels. Large doses will produce no injur,
while the diarrhea lasts When that i
checked then is the time for caution. hav
never seen case of diarrhes taken in seasol
, which was not thus costrolled but some case
of advanced diarrhea. and especially Of re-
lapse, paid no heed to it whatever. A
soon as this becomes apparent. hav,
always resorted to this course. Prepare
teacup Of starch boiled as for use in starchin
! linen, and stir into it full .teaspoonful @
! laudanum for an injection. Give Jpne thir
at each movement of the bowels. In on
: desperate case abandoned as hopeless by
physician, could not stop the disrrhea Ut
I'll the seventh injection, which containe
nearly a teaspoonful of laudauum. The pa
h tient recovered and is in perfect health. A
!. the same time use prepared chalk in ter
grain doses, with few drops OF laudanum an
oamphor to each. But whatever course
: | Il II